500 light meals is a book full of delicious recipes which are designed to be healthy and low in calories. This is not specifically a diet book, but instead is designed to support and to inspire those who want to watch their food intake, but do not want to count each calorie. For this reason the meals in the book are not calorie counted but as a rough guide, per por tion, main courses are well under 500 calories, lighter dishes under 350, and desser ts and baked goods, no more than 300 calories. The objective behind the recipes is to cook some familiar and some new and creative meals using less fat and sugar than usual but without compromising on flavor and texture. The recipes generally use minimal amounts of cooking oils or low-fat cooking sprays, non-fat or low-fat dair y products, and lean meats, as well as utilizing clever tricks and substitutions to omit or reduce high-fat and high-cholesteral ingredients. These techniques are mentioned many of the introductions to the recipes and can be adapted for use in other recipes which you like to make, helping you to become a lighter, healthier cook.