Healthy versions of familiar dishes

Stuffed peppers with light filling

Bell peppers are high in vitamin C and make a complete meal when stuffed with lean ground beef, lentils, and rice.

Quick pork goulash

This light take on a warming traditional dish combines lean pork tenderloin and vegetable ragout with savory whole-wheat pasta.

Crispy "fried" chicken in the oven

Dripping chicken pieces in kefir keeps the meat juicy, rolling them in crushed cornflakes creates a crispy crust, and baking the chicken instead of frying it reduces the fat and calories.

Turkey Meatloaf

Prepare dark turkey meat for Ellie Krieger's meatloaf and you won't regret it.

Hearty Chicken and Dumpling Soup (Low Calorie)

Oatmeal is the secret to hearty, light dumplings that, along with flavorful chicken and vegetables, make up this warming soup.

Individual Shepherd's Pie with Turkey

Portion control and ground turkey are the secrets to this healthier version of potato casserole, while spices, herbs, and sharp cheddar give it the original flavor.

Mac 'n' cheese "Three cheese"

For this version of mac and cheese, chefs used Muenster, sharp cheddar, and Parmesan cheese, and cauliflower puree was stirred in for a creamy texture.

Fettuccine Alfredo with Zucchini

Ellie adds zucchini for a fresh, lighter version of this creamy pasta.

Lasagna rolls with mushrooms and spinach

Whole-wheat pasta and low-fat ricotta and mozzarella are great substitutes for less healthy options that won't affect the taste of your favorite dish: you'll get a cheesy, hot lasagna, rolled into individual portions.

Chili con carne with beans and flavorful beef

This chili retains all the classic flavor, but with significantly less fat and calories. Serve it with brown rice for a nutritious main course.

Healthy lasagna with kale and mushrooms

This vegetable version of the traditional dish remains just as cheesy and delicious, while only having 290 calories per serving.

Fish and chips in the oven

Try a lighter take on this classic British dish: the fish and potatoes are baked in the oven instead of deep-fried.

Beef Stroganoff with mushrooms

Make Ellie's traditional recipe: she uses whole-wheat pasta and adds yogurt to the sauce for a creamy consistency.

Low-fat chocolate pudding

Chefs have created a lighter version of a childhood favorite, keeping it chocolatey with cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips.

Crab cakes with spicy yogurt sauce

Ellie's baked crab cakes are crispy on the outside and filled with fresh crab meat. They're perfectly complemented by a spicy, tangy sauce made with Greek yogurt and a touch of mayonnaise.

Crispy chicken in the oven

A coating of breakfast cereal and crushed breadcrumbs makes the chicken super crispy even when cooked in the oven—no deep-frying required.

Pasta casserole with canned tuna

This tuna casserole tastes just like Mom's, only it's a little lighter and, best of all, it's ready in about 40 minutes.

Cherry cheesecake

A wonderfully sweet and creamy cheesecake you won't regret eating. Ellie created it using a combination of fluffy ricotta and low-fat cream cheese.

Shrimp with Corn Grits

Make a healthier version of this Southern favorite by using less ham and cream. Perfectly cooked shrimp on top of warm grits is a true delight on a plate.

Low-calorie clam chowder

Clam chowder is undoubtedly a rich and filling dish. This version uses skim milk and plenty of spices, which helps lighten the dish while retaining its flavor.

Pot pie with chicken and flaky buns

Chicken and buns are typically a heavy, calorie-heavy dish. Ellie's modifications, like using whole-wheat flour and low-fat buttermilk, will help you enjoy this traditional dish without feeling guilty.

Meat lasagna with mushrooms

Bobby Dean fills his lasagna with beef, cheese, and tomato sauce, and adds mushrooms for extra fiber.

Traditional Meatloaf with a New Twist

Ellie adds lots of vegetables to this traditional dish.

Spicy Sweet Potato Chips

Adjust the flavor of these baked (not fried) chips to your liking; if you prefer it milder, use less cayenne pepper.

Vegetarian Chili in a Slow Cooker

This chili is loaded with beans and vegetables, rich and flavorful thanks to the fiery spices; you'll hardly notice the lack of meat.

Hot dogs with ground meat "Chili dogs"

If you're really craving a hot dog, make it a little healthier by topping a good hot dog with some lean chicken and bean chili and placing it on a whole grain bun.

Macaroni and 4 Cheeses

Cheddar, Monterey Jack, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese make up this delicious macaroni and cheese, and butternut squash adds an extra boost of vegetables. It's topped with crispy breadcrumbs.

Breaded chicken

Quickly dip boneless chicken thighs in kefir with hot sauce, roll them in crushed cornflakes and bake to crispy perfection.

Light Shepherd's Pie

For a healthier take on the classic meat and potato dish, use lean ground meat and replace some of the mashed potatoes with mashed cauliflower.

Healthy French Toast Breakfast Casserole

Whole-grain bread boosts the fiber content of this favorite dish, but it's also incredibly quick to prepare in the morning. The bread slices are soaked in an egg mixture overnight and are ready to go straight into the oven in the morning.

Light Chicken Pot Pie

The chefs used just a little butter for a flaky, lower-calorie crust and created a creamy sauce from low-fat milk and Greek yogurt.

Taco salad with beef and tomato dressing

Anyone who finds salads too sophisticated will love this taco version. With chili-spiced beef and sharp cheddar on a bed of greens, drizzled with a tomato-lime dressing, and topped with corn chips, this salad has a truly impressive flavor that everyone will love.

Pasta casserole with tuna

This is a surprisingly healthy version of the classic tuna casserole from childhood. Ellie makes her own creamy mixture to replace store-bought canned soup. The casserole is topped with whole-wheat pasta and topped with whole-wheat croutons for a golden crust.

Baked Potato with Sloppy Joe Stuffing

Two traditional dishes finally come together! Sloppy Joes are filled with lean ground turkey and topped with tender baked potatoes, all topped with low-fat cheddar cheese.

Baked Nacho Dip with Baked Sweet Potatoes

This easy-to-follow recipe has everything you want on a nacho plate: the crispiness of homemade corn chips, the savory adobo-cooked pinto beans, and the creaminess of baked sweet potato and avocado—all topped with a fresh salsa.

Chili with Butternut Squash and Turkey

This recipe combines many traditional chili flavors with added texture, color, and vitamins. We used protein-rich black beans, lean ground turkey, and sweet butternut squash, adding thickness and crunch with chia seeds.

Mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt and green onions

Tart Greek yogurt elevates simple mashed potatoes. It not only adds calcium and protein but also acts as a probiotic, which is important for gut health.

Healthy whole grain pizza with arugula and parsley pesto

For a change, we've added arugula to our hearty pesto. Drizzle it over a hearty whole-wheat pizza crust for a unique flavor; you'll find other easy uses for our pesto, too. It's perfect for crostini, grilled chicken, and (surprise!) pasta. The dough is also versatile. You can make it ahead of time and store it in the freezer, then simply take it out and defrost it to room temperature when you need it.

Lasagna with baked cauliflower

The real star of this healthy lasagna is the cauliflower, which serves two roles: as a puree mixed into the ricotta for texture, and baked in place of traditional meatballs or sausages. Red bell pepper adds a more complex flavor to the tomato sauce, balancing the richness of the cheeses.

Easy Mac and Cheese with Artichokes and Spinach

This lighter, yet equally creamy, version of macaroni and cheese is packed with protein (an impressive 29 grams per serving)—quite a feat for a vegetarian dish. Whole-grain pasta, spinach, and artichoke hearts add vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Turkey and Beef Meatloaf with Cranberry Glaze

Turkey and cranberries are the perfect combination; you don't have to wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy them. In this healthy meatloaf variation, turkey breaks up the traditional base of ground beef, while antioxidant-rich cranberries are the star ingredient in the zesty glaze.

Turkey meatballs with kale and oatmeal in a quick tomato sauce

A bunch of vitamin-rich kale gives these turkey meatballs their green color. Rolled oats add fiber and are used in place of bread to bind the ingredients together.

Whole grain bread twists with chocolate and cherries

The nutty flavor of the whole-grain dough in these spirals pairs perfectly with the dark chocolate and cherry. Each spiral contains a modest 160 calories but boasts a rich flavor, thanks in part to the tiny amount of butter they're brushed with immediately after baking.

Whole wheat pizza with Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and ricotta

This vibrant pizza is packed with vitamin C, calcium, iron, and fiber. You can reduce the amount of cheese (and fat) used by topping it with fresh ricotta and sprinkling it with Parmesan cheese after baking.

Stuffed peppers with sausage mince

Cold cuts and bell peppers are often found in the same dishes, but they've never met like this before. Prepared peppers should be stuffed and folded like tacos for a gluten-free, super-tasty (and low-calorie!) lunch. Don't forget to wrap the peppers in waxed paper to retain all the juices before serving.

Chocolate cake with milk mousse

Ellie's creamy cake has twice the chocolate and half the fat of the original recipe.

Whole Wheat Brownies

The secret to Ellie's moist and quick brownies is low-fat yogurt in the batter.

Pasta with cauliflower

This low-calorie, dairy-free take on the American classic is just like the original, with its creamy orange sauce, thanks to cauliflower puree, vegan cheddar, and turmeric. We used umami-rich miso paste and nutritional yeast to mimic the nutty, savory flavor of the cheese.

Crispy zucchini and green tomatoes in the oven

Fried green tomatoes are a favorite dish in the Southern United States, but deep-frying isn't the healthiest way to cook vegetables. Bobby Dean lightens the traditional recipe by roasting the tomatoes instead of frying them and adding zucchini for extra vegetable volume.