Post your questions for The Times nutritionist here by Wednesday 5th March. We'll post up Amanda's answers on Saturday March 8th.

Body&Soul

We're always being told to eat 5 fruit & veg a day. Two questions:
1) Why don't potatoes count?
2) If I put two bananas and two apples into a blender, why does that only count as one portion? (I don't believe that dietary fibre is a big thing which can be cut up into uselessly small bits by a blender!)

I find that as I get older my body reacts more and more adversely to alcohol-particularly red wine, which is what I usually drink. Is it harder for our bodies to process alcohol as we get older? Friends of a similar age (50ish) find the same problem.

I started diet january 20 and have taken the cut out the sugar, dairy, red meat,alcohol and wheat out of life diet. Replaced them with soya, lots of fresh fruit and natural products.

Have lost 10 lbs and an inch in flab my goal is to get my bmi down to normal which will be 10 stone ideally. I have been stuck at 11st 2llb for the last 2 weeks and no flab moving either.(had my period so didn't expect to for a week)

I have been walking much more than normal (at speed) my job is physical I am on my feet all day, I do pilates (advanced) twice a week and to be frank am too knackered at the end of the day to exercise any more, I am 47, have two boys and the weekends are full of household chores and being a taxi service.

Where do I go from here... I am careful to eat at least every three hours and consume between 1400-1600 cals in the week and 1500-1700 at the weekend....

How does BMI differentiate between fat and muscle? Can having a lot of muscle be unhealthy?

Is there a cure for a chocolate hangover? Does excess chocolate/sugary food cause dehydration in the same way as alcohol or is it something else?

Is there any way we could have some more calorie-counted recipes, particularly for dinner. Am really enjoying many of your original recipes but would like a few more ideas.

Thanks

I have lost 15 pounds over 7 weeks by eating healthily and cutting back on alcohol. I am going to Portugal on a girlie holiday in a few weeks and am worried I will undo all my good work by eating and drinking too much. Any ideas how I can enjoy my holiday without feeling deprived. Thankyou.

I am trying to reduce the amount of meat and animal products in my diet. How easy is it the have sufficient protein without resorting to nuts (which I love but are high in calories) or pulses which I like only in moderation?

I have looked at vegetarian recipes and have noticed that many are based just around vegetables and maybe rice or pasta which sound great, but where's the protein?

Hi Amanda
I generally eat what I consider to be quite healthy balanced meals, with few snacks, high fat/sugar treats etc, managing plenty of water and 4 - 7 portions fruiit/veg most days.

However, I am not sure about balancing energy intake from carbs (starches and complex) and from protein. I am an average size averagely active female of 50. I usually have a high(ish) carb breakfast sometines WITH protein element, mostly protein and salad lunch (I find starchy carbs make me sleepy then) and about a 30% protein, 45% starchy carbs evening meal at about 7:00 pm.

Is there a simple equation for good health/weight maintenance?
Are there better times of day (or within exercise times) to consume different elements?

Hi Amanda,
I'm a lacto-vegetarian trying to lose weight. Please could you give me advice and maybe some sample calorie counted menu ideas? I find it very hard to find diet ideas to cater for me that arn't repetitive or overly complicated - I'm also very aware of balancing my diet to get the right nutrients and I'm not sure how to do this while calorie counting!
Many thanks,
Kazza

My son, aged 8, is very slim (resembles Mr Skinny in the Mr Men books) and very active and wants to put on a bit of weight to help with his rugby playing. Is there a way he can do this and I can lose the next stone whilst eating the same food? He is a normal 8 year old which means he can't stand the sight of vegetables!

Is it possible to have heart-burn from water? There has been occasion that all I've had all morning is water (don't tend to start eating until 11/12) and have suffered with heart-burn. Can that possibly be the water or is it from food hours and hours ago the night before? I drink water at room temperature (as well as the Gaviscon!!!)

Emm

I am feeling sick today and have the "skitters". I was at a friend's last night for a delicious meal, but had pastry, cheese and chocolate - all of which I had cut out of my diet since New Year.

Is is possible to develop an intolerance to certain foods over such a short period of time, or should I just put my symptoms down to over-eating?

Having lost 9LBs since 7 Jan on the Atkins diet and exercising every day ie 20 minute run every other day and cycling and drinking 1.5 litres of water per day. I seem to have reached a plateau. How can I kick start again?

I was diagnosed with coeliac disease a year ago and have consequently put on weight. I follow a gluten free diet but find it difficult to lose weight following usual diets (low fat etc). Any tips for gluten-free would be dieters please?

Can someone point me to the article where these questions were answered.

Think this is it Roger:
HERE

I've decided to switch to wholemeal pasta and rice. Will it be safe for my children, aged 7 and 11, to have such a high fibre diet, as we already eat wholemeal/granary bread and lots of fruit/veg? I'm sure I heard that a high fibre diet was not good for children.

Jaki