Before raiding your medicine cabinet, look in your kitchen for natural ways to remedy that dodgy stomach or skull-pounding headache. The following foods give instant relief, no prescription necessary.

Quick fix the Stinky breath with parsley

All out of sugar-free gum? No worries. That sprig of parsley on the side of your plate works just as well. Fresh parsley is rich in the plant pigment chlorophyll, a powerful breath freshener. We recommend chewing parsley after onion heavy kebab or a latte to cure malodorous breath.

It's amazing to think peanut butter sandwiches are now banned from most childcare facilities in the world due to the number of food allergies – one in 20 children and one in 100 adults have them.

Severe allergies cause life-threatening anaphylaxis – trouble breathing, dizziness or loss of blood pressure. If you're allergic, have an action strategy, carry medication and be vigilant. Here are some strategies for eating out.

Low-fat and vegetarian don't necessarily go hand in hand. Be a healthy and balanced vegetarian with these tips...

1. Include 'complete' proteins

If you're vegetarian or thinking about it, it's easy to miss out on important nutrients, especially protein. Protein is needed to build and repair your body's tissues. While plants and vegetables contain some protein, they don't contain all the amino acids your body needs. A perfect example of a complete protein is pure soy, and products with high-soy content such as tofu and tempeh. Both are vegetarian and will blend well into most meals. For something different, try flavoured or marinated tofu or tempeh, easily purchased from your local fresh market or local supermarket.

2. Look past vegetarian products

With changing eating habits, there are now more vegetarian products then ever before. While it's okay to have a few veggie burgers every now and then, they shouldn't substitute a diet rich in fresh vegetables. Try making a leafy salad or bowl of fresh-steamed veggies to to get maximum nutrients. If you're going to a BBQ and you know their main ingredients will be meat and bread, pack a salad full of leafy greens, other vegetables, nuts or tofu. This will save you feeling rude and sitting there with nothing to eat.