Q. While weekending at a friend of mine’s parents, her
mother asked me if I would like some porridge as I arrived at breakfast. I am a keen porridge fan and replied as such. When I tasted the heaped bowl, however, it was heavily salted and induced a feeling of overwhelming nausea. I did not know how to refuse food that I had only just finished extolling the virtues of (‘yes, porridge is delicious, but not this muck’) and so finished the bowlful. For future reference how should I have handled this situation, without feeling ill for the rest of the day?
J.K.W., by email A. Jonathan Dimbleby suffered recently from this very problem. The solution would have been to put your first spoonful down immediately and say, ‘This is delicious. I’ve forgotten what real porridge tastes like but I’ve been a complete chump. I totally forgot to tell you that I’m following the government guidelines on salt intake. I can’t resist another couple of spoonfuls but do you mind if I don’t finish it?’
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