Leafy Greens

Homemade, at least the way Self does it, fills you up without filling you out, but it takes an hour to make. Freeze the leftovers for quick meals that are more healthful than most of the ones you find in the freezer section of the supermarket.

The health benefits: almost 25 percent of the RDA for magnesium in 1/2 cup cooked chard; 20 percent of the RDA for vitamin A; almost 25 percent of your potassium quota.

The health benefits: nearly a fifth of the RDA for vitamin C in 1/2 cup raw cabbage; magnesium from the zucchini; eggplant offers fiber.

Sunday breakfast. From Miraval Resort & Spa in Catalina, Arizona. Egg-white omelettes don't have to taste like quilt batting. Chefs at Miraval whip up a fluffy, veggie-heavy number. Their secret? A dollop of lowfat cream cheese, which improves the texture and adds a rich taste.

The decked-out deli sandwich Who knew tuna on rye could be so sophisticated? "I go for the big taste," says Taylor Alonso, chef of the Bellport, a comfortably chic restaurant in Bellport, Long Island, that's a favorite summer haunt of New Yorkers. Alonso went for big nutrition, too, when he created this elegant and delicious tuna-steak sandwich for Self. Fresh tuna supplies lots of omega-3s, and goat cheese offers more calcium (with less fat and cholesterol) than most cheeses.

To round out the meal: 4 oz red wine or juice spritzer; 1/8 honeydew and 2 butter cookies; 8 oz low-fat milk

A protein-and-veggie-packed omelette alternative Eggs get the fancy treatment with this frittata, adapted from Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Café (Hyperion), the latest by the Moosewood Cookbook author. The dish easily feeds a crowd, and because it uses egg whites in place of some yolks, fat content stays within a healthy range. Self added lean turkey bacon for flavor, but it's worth a gobble with or without the meat.

Forget the chicken sandwich — have a few of these leafy treats. When Daniel Green needed to drop a considerable amount of weight eight years ago, he didn't just go on a diet: He learned to cook and create his own lowfat meals. Nearly 70 pounds lighter, he launched an international modeling career — only to find he'd rather be in the kitchen than on the catwalk. Now Green shares cooking tips on British television and here for Self, in this moo shu–inspired dish. Its do-it-your Self assembly is perfect for dinner with friends.

A healthy holiday mini-meal (in minutes!) If your Thanksgiving is going to be a couple of people and not a crowd this year, don't bother looking for the littlest bird to roast — try this quick and delicious turkey dish instead. Food writer Sally Schneider has created hundreds of simple yet tasty recipes for A New Way to Cook (Artisan). Her turkey scallopini is lower in cholesterol than the classic veal version and stars vitamin A-packed greens.

It's healthy, tasty and, yes, a full meal. This fiber-packed (12 whole grams — almost half your daily dose!), meal-sized salad comes from Gabrielle Hamilton, chef and owner of Prune, a tiny New York City restaurant that's wowing diners with natural, wholesome food that tastes delicious. Bonus for you home cooks: This dish is also quick to fix. Just chop, toss, then chow.

Plain old pasta goes low-fat gourmet. Creamy pasta, good-for-you greens... What's wrong with this picture? Nothing! It's a weeknight-easy, flavor-packed treat from Alfred Portale, chef at New York City's famed Gotham Bar and Grill and author of the new Alfred Portale's 12 Seasons Cookbook (Broadway Books). Make this low-fat dish even healthier by using reduced-fat goat cheese, which we think is one of the best-tasting slimmed-down cheeses around.

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.

You'll crave it because it's pizza; you'll love it because it's so good for you. Bake this pie directly on an oven rack for a nice, crisp crust.

The healthiest take-it-anywhere lunch.

The spice girls: Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, chefs and co-owners of Border Grill in Santa Monica and Ciudad in Los Angeles (who gained fame as the stars of the Food Network show Too Hot Tamales). What you'll love: The sweet and spicy flavor combination. "The taste of the mango and the serrano pepper had my mouth watering for more," one taster said.

The spice girls: Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, chefs and co-owners of Border Grill in Santa Monica and Ciudad in Los Angeles (who gained fame as the stars of the Food Network show Too Hot Tamales). What you'll love: The sweet and spicy flavor combination. "The taste of the mango and the serrano pepper had my mouth watering for more," one taster said.

Eastern expert: Ming Tsai, chef-owner of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Massachusetts, star and creator of the show East Meets West With Ming Tsai on the Food Network. What you'll love: The fresh and healthy idea of combining raw greens with pasta. Said one taster, "I'd never thought to do that before, but I'd do it again."

The French prince: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, executive chef and co-owner of Jean-Georges, Jo Jo, Lipstick Cafe, Mercer Kitchen, and Vong in New York City. What you'll love: No-mess cooking — just wrap the chicken and vegetables in foil, then bake and serve. Our taster says it all: "Super easy and very delicious."

Everything about this dish is light, clean, vibrant, and harmonious, with the wonderful taste of corn perhaps taking center stage. The corn's refined sweetness is marvelously juxtaposed with the elegant sour flavor in the cheese. Mushrooms provide an earthiness, and spinach leaves cut through all the elements to insure a clean, bright taste. A playful salad featuring buttery lettuces, tomato pieces, and Rawmesan adds even greater depth on the palate. Here, both the flavor and textural variety are extraordinary.

This version of the classic salad shows why it is a favorite across America.