Talking about food is like talking about your dreams. Everyone has something to say. We all have to eat, it's just what we eat which differs. Some people eat for fuel and I feel bad for them. Even my baby eats what we eat, except he won't eat salt or spice. He also hates chicken stock which makes cooking difficult. But generally we eat a healthy, adult diet together. He loves oatmeal, broccoli, fruit and rice – a true Mexican baby. I did think he might be a vegetarian as he doesn't like meat, but then it must be tough having no teeth and being expected to chew flesh.

Mexican food is far more varied than people think. It changes like dialects. I was brought up in Jalisco by the sea on a basic diet – tomatoes, chillis, peppers of every size and rice, which is a Mexican staple. The Pacific coast has a huge array of seafood. All those shrimps, red snapper and marlin? You can eat it raw it's so good.

Moving to London aged 19 to study drama was a shock. More than a shock – I was miserable at the start. I couldn't cope with all the 90s pub food. But then I discovered Waitrose and started cooking for my friends, and I got to know people. I still missed the salsas and the beans of Mexico.

I think the water dictates how food will taste in a country. In England the apples taste unlike apples grown in any other place. England is an island, there's a lot of salt in the air and in the water. I think that has something to do with it. Or take English tea. It tastes terrible outside of England yet you can't even grow tea here! It's the salt, I'm sure. In Mexico we have a trick – add a crystal of salt to the kettle and the tea tastes better, almost English. But after four pots, your kettle's broken.

A light golden Mexican beer and some spicy food works like a good marriage, but Italian wine, not to mention Italian food, is probably the best in the world. I recently tried horse meat in Italy which was fantastic, and I adore pasta and tomatoes.

But all those Italian staples actually originated from China and the Americas. So you have to start asking yourself what Italian food would be without an outside influence. Trade is a wonderful thing and food is the most passive, beautiful entity, so to be able to give it to others is a supercool feeling. Italian food is a beautiful hybrid but without other countries, it would be nothing. I know, I know, I've said it.

Rice

Rice tends to be disruptive in terms of blood sugar and insulin levels. While it might be a staple in Mexican cooking, I'd encourage Gael to put more emphasis on more nutritious foods such as fish, fruit and nuts.

Shrimps/prawns

The high-protein nature of this food means that it will generally have appetite-sating properties which might have relevance for those who would like to put a natural brake on their appetites.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in a so-called "carotenoid" nutrient, which has links to a reduced risk of heart disease. This becomes particularly available to the body when consumed in an oil-rich tomato-based sauce.

Oatmeal

I rate oats reasonably highly on account of their unrefined (usually) and relatively slow sugar-releasing nature.

Tea

Tea is a drink associated with benefits for health, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (eg, heart disease and strokes).

Light Mexican beer

I think the "benefits" of alcohol have been generally overstated, though it appears to take more than a moderate intake of alcohol to have a significant adverse effect on health.

Chilli peppers

Capsaicin, the principle "pungent" chemical in chilli peppers, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer actions. Although hot, it seems chilli has the potential to put out internal fires.