
A flavoursome accompaniment to grilled meat or fish.
Try this fairly standard stock recipe and you'll never go back to commercial stock cubes or powder. It has loads of gutsy flavour but no added salt so can be used by anyone on a salt-free diet. If you must add some, just use half a teaspoon and taste as you go.
This salad is a fresh and zesty accompaniment to grilled fish on the barbecue. It has almost no fat, heaps of fibre and we've kept the salt down by being frugal with the fish sauce - a little goes a long way! If you haven't got a turnip, it still turns out fine.
I love this easy chicken recipe from McCormick with lots of paprika and oregano to add antioxidants. Also a good one for a gluten-free diet as pure dried spices have nothing else added (eg thickeners) and so are safe for coeliac disease.
A great high-fibre filler for dieters in cold weather - heat a bowl or microwave a mug whenever you're hungry. This is the sort of soup that gets promoted in Kickstart Diets or various Detox regimes (not that I'm a fan of either). But this soup is low in kilojoules/calories and high in veggies and fibre so it's a dieter's best friend.
This is an interesting main meal salad or it can be served piled onto rice crackers as a pre-dinner nibble. You can prepare it ahead and store covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Don't add the dressing until the last minute.
This is a wonderful hearty salad to serve with a barbecue on a hot summer's day. It appeals to men who often want something more filling than the usual lettuce -and-cucumber combination. If you have vegetarian guests, it also doubles as a main meal salad for them.
This meal-in-a-soup is very low in fat, full of healthy vegetables and boasts low GI carbs from the barley and kidney beans. It's easy to make and very filling. What's not to love? It's ideal for someone who has diabetes and needs slow-release food for steady blood glucose.
If you love lamb, try this quick easy way to dress up lamb cutlets. Use a reduced-salt stock to keep the salt down.
A tangy and fresh tasting salad. Serve as is for a light lunch, or try adding some noodles, strips of chicken and tofu for a more filling meal. Once you've added the apples and dressing, serve immediately. I like this salad made with one sweet and one tart apple.
A variation on the traditional baked apple - this time with a crunchy oat and nut topping. Sweetened with maple syrup and orange juice, instead of sugar.
History has left no clue as to the identity of the "Betty" who first layered breadcrumbs and apples to create this dessert.
This recipe makes a refreshing summer drink without the high sugar content of fizzy drink or juice. It's fat-free and also gives you the benefits of tea's polyphenol antioxidants which can neutralize harmful free radicals, keep your skin looking younger and dampen the ageing effects of the sun on the skin.
One of those old-fashioned clear soups with lots of veggies for you can fill up and eat lean while enjoying a hearty warm bowl of hot soup. This one is high in fibre (good news for your bowels) with no added salt so kind to the kidneys as well. What a bonus!
The combination of spinach, mushrooms and tofu gives a strong rich flavour to what is basically a low-fat soup.
This is an interesting clear soup which can be made hotter and spicier with the addition of chilli or can be a vegetarian dish if you omit the chicken.
Here's a hearty soup that's low in fat but high in fibre and flavour. Of all the legumes, lentils are the most convenient, requiring no pre-soaking overnight and no long hours of cooking.
Here's a dead-easy soup idea from the people at Salt Matters who eat a healthy diet without any added salt or salted foods. You first prepare the sweet potato and then add a can of reduced-salt tomato soup to thicken and add flavour.
This is a quick way to add a little zing to any fish fillet. If you haven't fresh rosemary, you can use the dried version, but add it later with the lemon juice and wine.
Here's a summer stir-fry recipe to head off the obesity crisis. It's got ample vegetables, a serve of lean protein (fish, meat, chicken or eggs) or its filling value plus a small serve of carbs (cut down, don't cut out) to balance out the meal.
A simply divine combination for when mangos are in season. Try to choose a mango that's firm or even a little underipe with its skin tinged with green.
Everyone loves these delicious salmon cakes and they're quick and easy to make. An interesting alternative to mince.
Tuna teams nicely with tomatoes, eggplant, capsicum and olive oil - all key ingredients of the heart-winning Mediterranean Diet.
Absolutely beautiful over a bed of soft rice. The spicy sauce also does justice to chicken pieces or vegetables.
If you like Asian flavours, you'll enjoy this delicious way to dress up fish fillets. The flavours of the ginger, sesame and garlic team well so nicely - and you can always add a little chilli for some heat.
The flavours of wine, lemon, pepper and parsley just add a little something but without taking away from the magnificent flavour of the fish itself. Keep the vegetables fairly simple without strong overpowering flavours and you'll create a delicious meal. The fat in this dish is mostly monounsaturated.
I love this quick yet healthy pasta dinner. Use up whatever vegetables you have hanging around in the fridge and you'll have a family friendly meal ready in under 30 minutes. Not bad!
Love prawns! Love asparagus! So here they are combined into one great dish with a hint of Asian flavours thanks for a light soy sauce and peanut oil.
A great idea for a summer barbecue. So simple to prepare - and no washing up afterwards! The fish takes on the fragrance of the lemon, herbs and onion yet retains its simplicity and freshness.
Easy and full-flavoured, this salad gets better the day after as the flavours develop. The beans makes it low GI and high in fibre while the tuna adds protein and those all-important omega-3s.
Whip up this quick summer salad for a lunch or light dinner - easy if you've got leftover cooked pasta. And it works with all sorts of ingredients. See some of the variations you can try below.
Try this quick and easy recipe based on pasta plus a can of tuna. Best of all, it gives your omega-3s a boost!
The secret to stir-frying is the heat. You need a really high heat to cook the ingredients quickly and prevent them stewing in their own juices. That way your stir-fries will always be fresh and crisp, not limp and soggy.
Recipe by Mel Kettle.
Cold chilly days in winter are not really the time for salad, but I'm trying to be healthy and lose weight. So salads it is! This one is a favourite - it's sooo easy and so full of flavour. And if you add extra chilli it's actually quite warming! Also gorgeous as leftovers for lunch the next day.
I love this simple carrot side salad which I first tasted in Lyon in France. I've modified it slightly from Saveur.com. You can see the original at their website at www.saveur.com.
The trick is to use a mandolin type grater so you get a long squarish grate. I like to add a little parsley for colour but you can omit this if you like. The carrot salad looks stunning on a buffet of other salads - it's a great contrast to the usual green leaves or tomato-cucumber types. The oil in the dressing is important as it assists the absorption of the beta-carotene which is fat-soluble.
Catherine
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