I felt unheard and I needed to get the anger out of my system instead of bottling it up – being a single mum on the dole, struggling to feed myself and my son, was lonely.
Having a child very young changes your perspective on the world. I suddenly didn’t have my lovely well-paid job any more. I’d always known the world was a dark and dangerous place but when you’ve got your own children you want to make sure the world you’re leaving to them is a kind one and a safe one.
Cooking is a very powerful skill to have; being able to feed yourself on tins and freezer contents is a life skill. Some of the people I work with have no choice but to cook in a kettle or in a microwave.
There’s a shame attached to fast food and ready meals that only seems to hit one end of the socio-economic spectrum. Nobody’s castigating the fancy supermarkets for their nicely packaged meal deals while everyone’s castigating the single mum on benefits eating macaroni in a tin, but it’s the same thing.
‘Superfoods’ is a label that needs to be applied with more caution, as they have their limitations. I have arthritis and I get people messaging me telling me to eat turmeric and garlic every day, but I do have them every day and I still have arthritis.
I struggle with depression and despite being a cookery writer there are times when I’ll sit and eat a bowl of crisps for my dinner, because I need carbs to make me feel better.
I’m a very introspective person and have weekly therapy after years of not wanting to admit to myself that I was a bit mad – and actually I am a bit mad. So it’s good I can talk to someone about it and get my mind in order.
Jack Monroe’s latest book is Cooking on a Bootstrap (Bluebird, £15.99). Order a copy for £13.59 at guardianbookshop.com
