500 calorie recipes

Homemade herb yogurt cheese strained with thyme, basil, and pepper. A low-fat spread for crackers or baked potatoes that keeps for two weeks in the fridge.

Silky blended soup packed with potatoes, zucchini, and spinach in a light vegetarian broth that's low-calorie, dairy-free, and deeply satisfying.

Braised red cabbage with apple, a German-style side simmered with onion, cloves, and bay, finished with sugar and vinegar for the classic sweet-sour balance. Vegan and low calorie.

This is a very healthy recipe, low fat, low calories, and very tasty too.

Tender chicken breast simmered in a light curry broth, then tossed in a silky orange juice and sherry glaze with ginger, crisp celery, and bright bell peppers. Served over fluffy brown rice for a low-cal weeknight dinner that still brings bold flavor.

This quick and easy salad is light and refreshing, it is a great side dish with any main dish.

Easy Mexican salsa from a can of tomato sauce, crushed red chiles, cumin, and oregano with garlic and a hit of vinegar and lemon. Vegan, low-cal, ready in 5 minutes.

Corn and tomato saute browns sweet fresh corn and shallots, then folds in raw tomatoes and tarragon off the heat so they stay fresh and juicy. A light, 5-ingredient summer side in 20 minutes.

Sautéed Swiss chard with crispy pancetta, shallots, toasted walnuts and fresh thyme. Quick Italian-style greens side dish ready in 25 minutes.

This simple side works with various meat main dishes.

Crunchy bok choy apple slaw with Granny Smith apple, carrots, and red onion in a tangy sour cream dressing. No cooking required, low calorie, and ready in 15 minutes.

Lighter honey vanilla cheesecake made with reduced-fat cream cheese, cottage cheese, and fat-free ricotta on a gingersnap crust. Sweetened with honey instead of sugar and baked with steam for a silky, crack-free top.

Whole wheat oatmeal bread machine loaf with diced apple, cinnamon, and apple juice for the liquid. High-fiber, healthy, naturally sweetened with honey and orange juice concentrate.

These slow-cooked beans are very flavorful, and cook them by yourself, always can be flexible, and more tasty and healty too.

Best borscht: a ruby-red Russian beet soup loaded with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes in a rich beef broth, finished with a swirl of sour cream and fresh dill. Hearty yet light.

Light minestrone soup with potatoes, zucchini, green beans, and broken spaghetti in a tomato-basil broth. Made entirely in the microwave for an easy low-calorie dinner.