Popeyed at the thought

WHEN you ask people if they like spinach, you rarely get a wishy-washy answer: it’s usually either a spontaneous, “I adore spinach”, or an equally passionate, “Yuk, I loathe spinach”, followed by graphic and harrowing tales of being forced to eat it, as a child, by a well-meaning mother, or nanny.

Everyone knew it was chock-full of the vital vitamins and minerals, particularly iron, which is essential for healthy growth: after all, look what spinach did for Popeye; he could wipe out all-comers and win the adulation of Olive Oyl after he had glugged down a can of spinach.

Some adults have erased and overcome their childhood experience, but others won't ever again allow a mouthful of spinach to pass their lips.