Cheryl Cole is having specially-made food brought to hospital

The 'Fight for This Love' singer – who is battling potentially fatal tropical disease malaria – has asked her mother Joan Callaghan to prepare her favourite childhood meals because the meals served in her private London hospital were too "fancy".

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "It's definitely helping to cheer her up.
"There were things like quails eggs on the menu. But fancy foods aren't Cheryl's way.
"She's from a real working-class background and the home-made meals are a nice reminder from her childhood days."
The 27-year-old beauty has also been allowed to bend rules by keeping her leftover food – which has included pease pudding, Craster kippers from Northumberland smokehouses with scrambled eggs and Joan's homemade ham and lentil soup – the staff fridge for when she gets hungry.

It was revealed yesterday (14.07.10) that Cheryl has banned all visitors except Joan and dancer Derek Hough- who she is rumoured to be dating – from visiting her in hospital.

A source said: "Cheryl doesn't want people to see her as she is."

Cheryl is thought to have contracted malaria while holidaying with US dancer Derek, 25, in Tanzania, last month.