Letter: Crunchy sprouts

Sir: Since when were sprouts classed as a soft vegetable (report, 22 January)? In my home they crunch when gently steamed for 5-6 minutes, but I wouldn't touch the frozen ones that collapse to mush.

Maybe if more people took the time to select young, fresh vegetables and learned to cook them properly, children wouldn't turn their nose up - my three- and four-year-olds don't! Making everything taste like packets of crisps is not the answer: invest in a decent cook-book instead.

KAREN ILLINGWORTH

Manchester