After sampling so many dishes, I had to admit I never knew I had the capacity to eat so much.

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When I went to live with my grandmother for a while, she had enough to eat but not quite enough to keep warm.

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By the time I had everything all prepared and sat down to eat, it had taken 45 minutes or so.

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"Through counselling children, I realised some were stealing things because they had nothing to eat at home, " she adds.

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In short, I eat out a lot for work, and guesstimate that I had over 200 restaurant meals served to me this year.

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By the end of the second week, hunger had become a constant companion, and I was in a foul mood about how little fun it was to eat, especially out of the house.

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"I have given children fruit out of my own lunchbox and it makes such a difference once they have had something to eat, " said Mr Moalt.

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By this time, I was several thousand dollars worse off, maxed out on pet insurance and had spent four disconcerting days watching Minou refuse to eat or move.

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