THE QUESTION IN DETAIL

Q. I can't eat any dairy products for medical reasons. I was wondering what I could include in my diet so that I get enough calcium? I'm a 15-year old girl.

A. It's hard to get enough calcium when you can't eat dairy as these foods - milk, yoghurt and cheese - are our richest source of calcium. They provide between 60 and 75 per cent of all the calcium we consume in Australia.

There's a lot of interest in ancient grains – spelt, quinoa, barley, black rice, kamut and buckwheat - these days and with good reason. Ancient grains bring the romance of rustic old worlds into our kitchens. They add new interesting flavours to our meals and put us in touch with a slower more natural way of life. In this post I'll tell you what they are and why they're enjoying such a revival today.

A. In Australia, products sold as “cornflour” were once alwaysmade from wheat, not corn or maize (its alternative name). These days, however, many of the cornflours at the supermarkets are now produced from maize.

May 13 – 19 is Food Allergy Awareness Week and so in this issue of the Foodwatch Newsletter we talk about food allergies – what they are; how serious they are and what you need to know about them.

May 23 is the official date for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea so we'll talk about all things tea and also how you can get involved in this worthwhile fundraiser.

Our product of the month is UNCLE TOBYS Traditional Oats. Read how I like to eat them and I'd love to hear your favourite recipe.

A. Often it’s just as hard to put on weight as it is to lose weight, particularly if you come from a family with a tall slender build which you’ve no doubt inherited. On the plus side, as you get older, your skinny build will become an advantage as you’re less likely to succumb to heart troubles or diabetes, conditions which are aggravated by being overweight.

The question in full:

Q. I have a lot of trouble with wind and was wondering what else I can do. I've already cut out really windy foods like cabbage and lentils but I still seem to have problems which is so embarrassing.

The question in full

Q. I've read that margarine is bad for you as it is hydrogenated and so is high in trans fats. Is this correct?

Sugar. It's been labelled "deadly", "addictive", "toxic", "sweet poison" and blamed for the rise in global obesity in recent years." Get rid of the white toxin from your diet and you'll free up your body to drop those excess kilos" (or so say anti-sugar campaigners Sarah Wilson, David Gillespie and Robert Lustig). Here are the three real reasons why I believe quitting sugar helps you lose weight.