Welsh for a week eating challenge

By Hywel Griffith BBC Wales health correspondent

Going without coffee is bad enough... but bananas as well!

Day One: Forbidden Fruit

As a way of finding out more about the state of the Welsh food industry - I've volunteered to 'Eat Welsh for a Week'.

This means having to think again about my meals - not least breakfast.

Normally I try and start the day with a fruit salad and a caffeine burst of black coffee. But today both things were out...

Going a week without bananas in particular is going to be strange - as far as I can remember, I've eaten at least one a day for the last 10 years. I'm not alone in my affection for the humble yellow fruit - bananas are Britain's biggest sellers, and can be found in 95% of households. But they are not made in Wales - and so, for one week only, are off my menu.

Instead breakfast today consisted of strawberries and yoghurt - followed by bread and honey. Its a little harder to replace the coffee - all suggestions welcome.

I'm being joined in the challenge by the Brice family from Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan. They seemed to have planned out their shopping a little better than me - and enjoyed a breakfast of bacon sandwiches, whilst six year old Jacob and Charlie, who is nearly two, tucked into a Welsh version of French toast. However, they foresee struggling to replace a few staples in their diet:

"Its the pasta, rice and noodles maybe that we'll really struggle to get," says Richard Brice "but we'll get back to basics and eat truly Welsh food."

My truly Welsh lunch consisted of a cheese sandwich, and some more strawberries. I had to look temptation in the eye by refusing chocolate from a colleague whose just returned from holiday. As it's only day one I could resist.. If there's any left on Friday, I may not be so strong.