Serve this meat and bean mixture over lettuce in tortilla bowls, or over broken chips, and top with cheese.

Hot dog buns make a quick cheese-topped after-school snack.

This kid-appeal pie features a peanut-butter-swirled ice cream filling enhanced by a crunchy peanut crust. To get a head start, make the pie several days in advance and tuck it into your freezer.

The translucent colors of candied pineapple and papaya delicately color the wings of these cookie butterflies. Look for the candied fruit in specialty shops or large grocery stores.

A simple bottled dressing splashes on the flavor -- just choose the reduced-calorie version.

Some call a corn-and-bean combo "succotash." We call it smart eating.

Combine extra-lean beef and turkey breast for low-fat beefy flavor.

Purchased shrimp in shells can save money, but they do take time to devein. If you're in a hurry, buy 10 ounces peeled and deveined shrimp. If you serve the shrimp over pasta, add 20 grams of carbohydrate per 1/2 cup hot cooked pasta.

If you buy packaged mixed salad greens, a 10-ounce package contains about the right amount for this salad.

Acorn squash have ridged colorful peels in shades of green, gold, and orange. No need to peel them for this simple side dish. Just slice and cook.