I’VE GIVEN UP SUGAR FOR LENT BUT IT’S DIFFICULT. IT’S IN EVERYTHING. I MEAN, IT’S IN CAKES AND ALL S

The two women sitting next to me in the café were discussing their Lent sacrifices as they perused the menu.

It seemed that one was having a much harder time than the other. She lamented that sugar was popping up everywhere, not just in the predictable cakes and pastries but also in shop-bought soup, natural yoghurt and jars of savoury sauces. She said that she was having to check everything she bought and just one week in she was thinking of giving up. The other woman looked smug.

• I’ve given up bread, she said. But to make it easier, I’m only not eating food that has the word bread in its name, so I can’t eat pitta bread, or sourdough bread or rye bread.

• Or loaf of bread, the other woman interjected.

• Exactly, but if it hasn’t got bread in the name then I can eat it, so muffins, pretzels, teacakes I can eat. And I don’t need to think about it. Easy.

The sugar lady smiled, raised her eyebrows and announced.

I’m going to do the same. If it’s got sugar in it’s name, I won’t eat it. But otherwise I’m fine. Another piece of cake?