Q. My two-year-old seems to sneeze a lot and constantly has a runny nose. I think he may be allergic to something. What can I do about this?
Brenda-Anne Saunders is a clinical homeopath at Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre (04-3351200, www.dubaihtc.com).
She says: "Sneezing and coryza (runny nose) are very often associated with an allergy, especially if the mucus coming from the nose is clear and thin. Other signs of an allergy include reddish, scratchy eyes, watery eyes, wax in the ears and a general dark puffiness under the eyes.
"The first line of investigation would be some allergy screening tests. Conventional therapy improves symptoms by suppressing the immune system, whereas complementary therapies, such as homeopathy, herbal and Chinese medicine, aim to reduce the symptoms by supporting and modulating immune system function.
"Probiotics, Omega 3, Vitamin D and Black Seed Oil are all brilliant home remedies. For a quick diagnosis, try an antihistamine for three days — if it improves the symptoms then you know it is an allergy. If symptoms don't improve, see an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor."
Q. My three-year-old loves being creative, but he keeps colouring on the walls. How can I stop him from doing this?
Anne Turner is head teacher of Child's Play Nursery (www.childsplaynurserydubai.com) and Small World Nursery (www.smallworldnurserydubai.com).
She says: "Make sure that all pens and crayons are kept in a box out of his reach and that they only come out when he wants to colour on paper.
"Have a set area where he knows he can use pencils, crayons and paper. You may want to give him his own little table and chair where he can do his colouring. If you are using a patio or kitchen table, you may want to cover the table with a colourful washable cover, which your child can help you choose.
"Sit with your child when he is colouring and encourage him to talk to you about what he is drawing. Once he is used to his colouring area, he can be left to draw and colour alone. Show an interest in his drawings and praise his efforts.''
"If he leaves the table to draw on the walls, direct him back to the paper. If he insists on drawing anywhere else, put the crayons away and ask him to help you wash off the marks from the wall."
Q. I want to start meat-free Mondays for my family. Can you advise good vegetarian sources of protein?
Sarah Queen is director of Nutrition Matters Arabia (www.nutritionmattersarabia.com).
She says: "Protein needs to be consumed every day and with each meal. Good sources include milk, yoghurt, cheese and eggs. Ensure that milk and its products are provided at both breakfast and lunchtime. Soya is another excellent source of protein and comes in many forms: as milk, yoghurt, tofu and in vegetarian alternatives for meat. Tofu is great to use in stir-fries, curries and tomato-based sauces.
"Other good choices of protein include nuts, seeds, pulses, chickpeas, lentils and Quorn products. Starchy foods also contain some protein, for example beans, peanut butter or hummus on toast, or chickpea curry served with rice or couscous. These are not good-quality proteins, but eating a combination of them throughout the day will add up. Try adding nuts and seeds to rice, couscous and pasta dishes and have nuts available as a snack."
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