Ellis asks: I feel like I've been indulging too much and noticed I've gained a kilo or so. What type of foods should I avoid?
Wynnie says: If you want to achieve a healthy body weight - and optimal health - you need to focus on balancing the calories you consume with the calories you burn. A balanced diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in processed, fatty and sugary foods, combined with daily exercise, is the healthiest and most effective way to achieve a healthy body weight for your size.
Beware of calorie-laden drinks: Don't swill litres of juice, soda or lattes during or between meals. Did you know a 237ml serving of 100 per cent fruit juice or soda contains about 115 calories? Research has shown that children who have at least this amount of sugary drinks a day tend to eat more than those who don't drink them. It's thought the sugar in these drinks causes their insulin levels to rise, and make them hungrier.
Mindless eating can pile on kilos: Don't make a habit of snacking when you're watching a movie or surfing the net. It's easy to become distracted and overeat when you're focusing on something else.
Savour your meal: Chew every mouthful of food and eat slowly. It takes up to 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full. Put your utensils down between each mouthful of food.
Low-fat or low-calorie aren't always healthy choices: Often when people think they're eating healthy foods, they tend to overeat or compensate for being 'saintly' by eating more of them.