How many times a week can get sweets and soft drinks on the menu?

Depends. "If a child is overweight, offer two servings of these items a week," advises nutritionist Priscilla Maximino. But if she does not live on the warpath with the balance, three weekly portions are of good size. "These foods should be offered much more sparingly in cases of high cholesterol or triglycerides or hypertension," he adds.