DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and have a very sharp mind. I am also a very good judge of a guy's character. I've dated several guys, and my parents forced me to bring the guy to our house so my parents could meet him before we went out. A guy at my school has asked me to attend his sister's wedding with him and his family. We were friendly with each other, but this is the first time he asked me on a date. I told him that I would enjoy going to his sister's wedding with him and his family. When I told my mom that I would be going to a guy's sister's wedding with him and asked if they would forget meeting him first, she said that they would still like to meet him. Do you think they are treating me like a young child? —Suzanne, Ames, Iowa

SUZANNE: I agree with your parents. You should always introduce dates to them. Parents like to know whom their daughter is going out with. It'll make your date feel better to know that you've taken enough of an interest in him to introduce him to your parents, and it will give your parents peace of mind.

LOWER DAILY INTAKE OF FAT

DR. WALLACE: I play softball for my high school team, and I do my best to stay physically in shape. Lately, I have read a lot about what type foods to eat and what to avoid. Of course, I know to stay away from foods such as French fries, cakes, pies, cookies and other type foods that contain a lot of sugar and white flour. I also know that I should eat fruits and vegetables. Are dairy products good for me? How about meat? Sometimes I have a tendency to gain weight. —Angie, Miami, Fla.

ANGIE: Scientists and nutritionists are continually making new discoveries and changing their minds about what's healthy and what isn't. At one time, whole milk, red meat and cheese were considered essential for good health. Now whole milk is not as popular and skim milk is, cheese is often replaced with low-fat cheese, and red meat should be held to a minimum, while breast of turkey, skinless chicken and fish are recommended. These changes were suggested to help lower people's daily intake of fat.

It's also important to know the calorie count of the food you eat. The body requires 18 calories per day to maintain one pound of weight; thus, if your ideal weight is 120 pounds, your calorie intake should average 2,160 calories per day!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.