Q: What are some general rules for throwing a potluck dinner?

1. Survey guests for specific allergies, likes and dislikes ahead of time.
2. Assign yourself the main, most expensive course when allocating dishes.
3. Be specific. Rather than just saying, “Bring a side dish,” say, “Bring a hot green vegetable.” Case in point: At university I went to a potluck where half the people brought mashed potatoes and the other half mac ’n’ cheese.
4. Keep it casual: If someone buys a cheesecake rather than baking one, terrific!

Q: What do you think about buffet restaurants?

If, by buffet, you mean a smorgasbord of fresh foodstuffs for the senses, I’m all for it. Choice is good; nothing beats a fancy Sunday hotel brunch, an Italian antipasto selection or a meal of Spanish tapas, to name a few. But if, by buffet, you mean an all-you-can-eat Vegas-style binge-fest or a Chinese emporium of fat-laden soups, chicken balls and cakes, I’m not a fan. Either way, here’s some sage advice: Concentrate on the fresh shrimp, lobster tails and crab legs, and you’re golden.

Q: We eat fast. Does it really make a difference to your system to eat slow?

Medically speaking, the speed at which you eat doesn’t make much of a difference to the digestive system per se, but you are less likely to choke on a chicken bone if you take your time (choking can lead to death). In addition, it takes the stomach about 15 minutes to know it’s full, so if you eat slowly, the chances of going in for seconds is smaller, perhaps saving you some calories.

Q: I’ve heard that bananas are the best fruit for you. True?

False. All fruit is good for you, in different ways. Some, like bananas, offer a good source of potassium. Others, such as white grapefruit, mangos and cantaloupe, have loads of vitamin A and some vitamin C. When you’re talking figs, there’s not much in the way of vitamin C, but hello fibre! Bottom line: Have yourself a cornucopia of fruit—and try your best to have four to five portions a day.