Tom Kerridge

Acey , 10

I’m fairly certain every child is a picky eater. People who tell you their kids happily tuck into beetroot and feta salads? I don’t buy it. The majority of children are selective, and you just have to navigate it. If they see you eating vegetables often enough, eventually they come round.

Acey is 10, lifts weights and is seriously into rugby; he’s already training with boys older than him. He’s constantly burning energy, so my job is to get food into him before he realises he’s hungry. If I wait for him to ask, all he’ll want is whatever comes in the brightest wrapper.

He eats loads of meat and fish, loves cheese and salami, and we’ll make omelettes, burgers or cheese toasties with cured meat. He’s started making his own smoothies, too, blitzing frozen mango and pineapple with a mixture of coconut and cow’s milk. He’d never choose fruit, but if I put a chopped apple in front of him, he’ll eat it.…