Fill jumbo pasta shells with an irresistible filling of spinach, mushrooms and three cheeses (part-skim mozzarella, low-fat cottage cheese and Parmesan). Then bake in a garlicky, fennel-seed tomato sauce until bubbly.

Moderate amounts of Parmesan cheese and part-skim mozzarella curb calories. The dish is also great as a sandwich. Simply place a chicken-and-eggplant stack in a toasted, soft whole-wheat hoagie.

When it's pizza night at your house, don't dial for delivery. Make pizza at home with a homemade crust (partially whole wheat), herbed tomato sauce, spinach and two kinds of delicious cheese, part-skim mozzarella and ricotta.

Low-fat cream cheese is the perfect substitute for cream in this lighter Alfredo; it creates a thick, luxurious texture without extra calories.