Dieting and Special Diet recipe collection

Green smoothies are a wonderful easy way of increasing your leafy green intake - if you are new to green smoothies, start slowly and over time add more greens. The pineapple in the smoothie contains powerful digestive enzymes, while the spinach is loaded with iron. Coconut water is a wonderful way to quench your thirst while replenishing electrolytes - did you know that it was used by doctors during World War II to do transfusions when donor plasma was not available?

Instead of pumpkin pie, try this coconut pumpkin tart.

Three-ingredient collards and tomatoes wilts fresh collard greens with canned tomatoes and Italian seasoning. A vegan, gluten-free, low-carb side dish or soup, ready in 20 minutes.

This is a flexible recipe, if you want, you can always add any your favorite meat, such as chicken, turkey with these tasty veggies.

Congee is the Chinese name, Kanji the Japanese, and Jook is the Filipino name, all for the same thing. In English it would be called Rice Gruel or maybe Rice Hot Cereal, but progressively it is referred to by the naturalist health community as Congee. It is a staple of the Ancient Chinese Diet and used to nurse the sick and weak back to health. They say 3 weeks of this will cure ANYTHING! Its because it gives your system such a break that it can use its energy elsewhere to heal what ails you. It has nursed me back to health at least 3 times now and is supposed to be a part of my DAILY diet, according to my Acupuncturist, Betsy. Thank you for saving my life Betsy!!!

Fresh pineapple, mango, papaya, and strawberries layered with honey-sweetened vanilla yogurt and served in hollowed pineapple shells. A gorgeous low-fat tropical fruit salad.

Light, crisp zucchini slaw with sweet Vidalia onion, red bell pepper, basil, and a tangy apple cider vinegar dressing. No mayo, no cooking, ready in under 45 minutes.

Southern-style cornbread dressing loaded with crumbled cornbread, savory chicken broth, celery, and onions. Low-fat, diabetic-friendly, and baked until golden. A classic Thanksgiving side dish the whole family will love.

A hearty cornmeal and whole wheat quick bread sweetened with honey and made tender with buttermilk. No yeast, no kneading, just stir and bake into a wholesome, high-fiber loaf with a cornmeal-dusted crust.

A lighter noodle casserole made with low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, carrots, and mushrooms seasoned with basil and thyme. Diabetic-friendly and big enough to feed a crowd. Serves 12.

Homemade low-fat turkey sausage patties with dried apples, sage, and nutmeg. Ready in 30 minutes, these breakfast sausages skip the grease and pack real country flavor into every bite.

Cowboy cheeseburgers wrap mozzarella-topped beef patties seasoned with cumin and coriander in warm flour tortillas with tomato, cilantro, and taco sauce. Tex-Mex burgers ready in 35 minutes.

Hearty Italian vegetable soup with cabbage, zucchini, green beans, mushrooms, and a half-pureed broth for body. Built on pancetta, prosciutto rind, and chicken stock. Eight servings of comfort.

Creamy low-calorie crab and asparagus soup with dry sherry, lemon zest, and fresh vegetables in a light skim milk base. A guilt-free bowl of comfort ready in one hour.

Low-fat cranberry poppy seed loaf made with skim milk, egg substitute, and fresh lemon zest. A tender quick bread with tart cranberry pops and a subtle crunch from poppy seeds.

Creamy navy bean soup simmers soaked navy beans with carrots, celery, tomato puree, and thyme, then finishes with cream and milk for a silky high-fiber bowl. A vegetarian, gluten-free comfort soup.