Nut

Healthy bonus: 1/2 serving of fruit per slice, potassium from bananas, iron from walnuts

Chef Nadine Barner, who kept Gwyneth Paltrow looking fab with a macrobiotic regimen (a diet of mostly grains and vegetables), has served these tasty morsels at private parties hosted by the actress. Brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids from the walnuts makes this a smart starter. The calcium and protein combo found in tofu works to bolster bone density (no wonder Paltrow stands so tall in Hollywood), and the mushrooms' potassium helps protect against high blood pressure.

If you enjoy this decadent dessert (or the <epi:recipelink id="230320">Canyon Ranch Cocoa Chimichanga</epi:recipelink>) once a week, you will satisfy your cravings and stay on track with your weight loss and healthy-eating goals.

Surprise! A heavyweight makes a lightweight pizza. This healthy pizza comes from boxing champ George Foreman, the master behind the Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine (don't tell us you haven't seen the infomercials!) and author of the new George Foreman's Big Book of Grilling, Barbecue & Rotisserie (Simon & Schuster). Why grill? "It produces great-tasting healthy food, and it's easy," Foreman says.

The ultimate chocolate cake.

This traditional southern Italian pasta recipe, with its base of aglio e olio, garlic and oil, is one of those rustic foods that presents like a gourmet dish. It’s made entirely with pantry items, so it’s a perfect last-minute supper.

Almonds browned in butter bring a nutty crunch to classic French toast.

Canned artichoke hearts give this dish a Mediterranean flavor without the work involved in preparing fresh ones.

Pa-O Long Beans Finding long beans is worth the effort — the high heat of the wok is just too much for green beans, which aren't as hearty.

Dipped in peanut sauce, these beef satés are flavor bombs on a stick. Don't be put off by the long list of ingredients — we promise you won't be disappointed if you make the sauce from scratch. (It's so much fresher and more complex than any bottled product you may have used in the past.) The meat can be marinated and the sauce prepared ahead, so you just need to grill the satés before serving.

Beware of packaging announcing a product is "100 percent wheat" — this designation can be used on foods made with refined wheat flour. To be sure of a product's nutritional value, read labels carefully: The first ingredient should be a whole-grain product. Check the fiber content — if the product doesn't contain a minimum of three grams per slice, you are probably dealing with an impostor.

These buttery fruit-and-nut bars taste like rugelach but are much easier to make.

If you are looking for a cookie that's lower in calories than your favorite chocolate chip recipe, whip up a batch of these palate-pleasing bites from pastry chef Heather Norkin. They're easy to make, and almost all of the fat is the heart-friendly unsaturated kind, from the pecans.

A filling of lemon curd folded into whipped crème fraîche gives this tart its billowy and ethereal texture.