I once had a concert straight after lunch and my flute teacher told me not to eat any sugary foods because they make your lips swell up and you will find it harder to get a decent sound, can anybody tell me if this is true or not??!

In my experience it is salty or spicy foods that do that. I've recently solved the problem of a student who could play some weeks but not others; when I investigated what she did before her lesson I found that some weeks she ate a packet of crisps. I suggested she left crisp eating until after her lesson, and the problem was solved.

I would discourage you from eating sugary foods and then playing your flute for a different reason. The sugar in your saliva will get on to the pads and cause them to stick. Try drinking a glass of water before you play, or clean your teeth if you are able.

I hadn't heard this one, hcutting, but I am prepared to do the control experiment to find out - I'll eat copious quantities of chocolate but I won't play a flute

Never heard that one before.

Sounds like a great way to hint that someone should watch their calories!

Steve