Old man winter is not only beating on the door, he's about to rip it off the hinges. If you have to eat one more bowl of soup, you're going to scream. Obviously you want to serve your family a delicious and healthy meal that's satisfying on a cold evening, but you're almost out of ideas. How can you come up with a meal that warms chilly bones without boring the taste buds? Why not try one of these recipes? They're not only healthy, but they'll warm you up after a cold winter's day.

Chicken and Onions with Brown Rice
Serves 4

1 pound chicken tenders, cut into bite sized pieces
2 large onions, sliced
Olive oil
1 jar of chicken gravy
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
4 cups of cooked brown rice

1. Place the chicken and onions in a large skillet, add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the skillet, cover and cook over medium-high heat until the onions are translucent and the chicken is cooked through.
2. Once the chicken is cooked, add the jar of chicken gravy and pepper.
3. Cook until heated through and serve over brown rice.
4. Serve with a side salad and whole wheat rolls.

Steak with Roasted Potatoes
Serves 4

4 medium potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
½ cup olive oil
Garlic powder, to taste
Onion powder to taste
Sea salt, to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
16-ounce sirloin steak, trimmed of fat and cut into thin strips
1 bunch of green onions, chopped

1. Toss the potatoes with the olive oil and seasonings. Roast at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.
2. Turn the potatoes over and top with steak strips.
3. Cook for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how you like your steak.
4. Toss with green onions and serve.
5. Add a salad and rolls to round out the meal.

Winter meals don't have to be boring. There are several meals that warm the soul without putting your taste buds to sleep.

There's no denying the fact that nuts are filled with heart-healthy fats. Unfortunately, it can be hard to eat a handful of nuts day after day. No matter how much you love almonds or walnuts, they can get boring after a while. Thankfully, nuts make a great addition to thousands of recipes. The following recipes will give you a starting point that hopefully encourages you to add nuts to more of your favorite dishes.

Fall Flavors Trail Mix
Serves 8
This trail mix is the perfect afternoon snack. Package in zip-top bags, and it's ready to go where you go. Best of all, your kids will love finding this snack in their lunchbox.

1 cup of pecan halves, coarsely chopped
1 cup of pumpkin seeds
1 cup of dried cranberries
1 cup of dried apple wedges, chopped
½ cup of mini dark chocolate chips

1. Toast the pecans and pumpkin seeds in a skillet over medium heat until they smell nutty, about 5 minutes.
2. After the nuts have cooled, toss with the cranberries, apples and mini chocolate chips.
3. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Brown Rice with Cherries and Almonds
Serves 4
This rice makes a wonderful side dish, and the leftovers also taste great cold as a quick lunch.

1 cup of dry brown rice
1 ½ cups of low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup of dried cherries
4 ounces of slivered almonds

1. Cook the rice according to package direction using the chicken broth in place of water.
2. In the meantime, toast almonds in a skillet over medium heat until they smell nutty.
3. Halfway through the cooking process, add the dried cherries to the rice.
4. Serve with grilled chicken.

Nuts don't have to be eaten by themselves to be heart-healthy. You can actually combine them with other healthy ingredients to create recipes your family will love. Be creative and add nuts to some of your favorite recipes. You could end up with a new family favorite.

You don't have to be a vegetarian to understand the importance of meatless meals. You also don't have to choke down tofu in order to enjoy the benefits of a meatless meal. Meat-free meals are packed with nutrition, are affordable to prepare and can be prepared quickly. What's not to love? The following are just a few recipes to get you started.

Spicy Egg Burritos
Serves 4
1 cup of egg substitute
4 ounces of pepper jack cheese, shredded
2 - 4 tablespoons of pickled jalapenos, sliced
2 cups of chili beans, heated
4 whole wheat tortillas
8 tablespoons of reduced-fat sour cream

1. Cook the egg substitute according to the package directions.
2. Right before the eggs are done, add the cheese and jalapenos.
3. Heat the tortillas in the microwave under a damp paper towel for 30 to 60 seconds or until softened.
4. Top the tortillas with the eggs, beans and sour cream.
5. Fold the sides of the tortilla in and roll.
6. Serve with salsa for dipping.

Mexican Bean Pizza
Serves 4-6
1 whole wheat pizza crust
1 large can of fat-free refried beans
1 cup of Mexican cheese blend
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 cups of shredded lettuce
1 cup of salsa
½ cup of reduced-fat sour cream

1. Top the pizza crust with the refried beans and cheese.
2. Bake according to the package directions or until cheese has melted.
3. Top with tomatoes, lettuce, salsa and sour cream.
4. Serve immediately.

Green Beans with New Potatoes
Serves 8
2-pound bag of frozen green beans
16 small new potatoes
½ cup of garlic infused olive oil
½ cup water

1. Boil the green beans for 5 minutes and drain.
2. Toss the green beans with new potatoes and olive oil.
3. Pour water into a slow cooker followed by the beans and potatoes.
4. Cook on low for 8 hours.
5. Serve with whole wheat rolls.

Meatless meals don't have to be boring. They also don't have to strain your pocketbook.

Let's face it. In a few days, you'll be faced with pounds of leftover turkey. While you could serve it with the traditional Thanksgiving sides, over and over again, you know that's not healthy. Thankfully, there are hundreds of healthy ways to serve leftover turkey. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.

Hot Open-Faced Turkey Sandwiches
Serves 4
This makes a great, quick lunch after hitting all those Black Friday sales. If you don't have time to prepare dressing, use some of the leftovers.

• 1 pound of leftover turkey breast, skinned and shredded
• 1 jar of turkey gravy
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 8 pieces of whole wheat bread, toasted
• 2 cups of prepared, low-fat dressing mix

1. Place the turkey and gravy in a saucepan, season with pepper and heat over medium-high heat until bubbly.
2. Top each slice of toasted bread with ¼ cup of the dressing.
3. Top with the turkey and gravy and serve.

The Leftover Turkey Salad
Serves 4
This recipe takes advantage of cooked leftovers and some of the extra ingredients you may have leftover, such as celery and pecans.

• One 4 x 4-inch square of leftover dressing
• 8 cups of romaine lettuce
• 4 stalks of celery, cleaned and sliced
• 1 cup of pecans, toasted
• 1 pound of turkey breast, skinned and chopped into bite sized pieces
• Salad dressing of your choice

1. Cut the dressing into bite sized cubes and toast in the oven until golden brown and crispy.
2. In the meantime, combine the lettuce and celery in a large bowl.
3. Top with pecans, turkey, dressing croutons and salad dressing.
4. Serve with leftover rolls.

Don't let the day after Thanksgiving be the beginning of a free for all that lasts until New Year's. Instead, turn those leftovers into healthy meals that are quick and easy. After all, who wants to spend the day slaving away when they could be shopping or hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree?

Is there anything more satisfying than a casserole on a cool evening? Not only are casseroles the perfect comfort food, but they're also extremely easy to make. In only a few minutes, you can prepare a casserole and help the kids with their homework. Thirty minutes to an hour later, you'll have a delicious meal that your entire family will enjoy. Here are a couple recipes to help get you started.

Lean Beef and Vegetable Pasta Bake
Serves 4

• 1 pound of 93-percent lean ground beef
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• Sea salt, to taste
• Olive oil
• 2 green peppers, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons, minced garlic
• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 16-ounce jar of organic pasta sauce
• 4 ounces of 2-percent mozzarella cheese

1. Cook ground beef and season to taste.
2. In the meantime, cook the vegetables and garlic in olive oil until slightly tender.
3. Boil pasta according to package directions.
4. Combine the meat, vegetables, sauce and pasta. Pour into an 8-inch dish that has been coated with cooking spray.
5. Top with cheese and bake at 400 degrees until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
6. Serve with whole wheat garlic bread and a side salad.

Chicken Mushroom Casserole
Serves 4

• 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast
• Olive oil
• 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup of frozen pearl onions, thawed
• 1 jar of chicken gravy
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 1 refrigerated pie crust

1. Cook chicken in a skillet until cooked through and cut into bite-size pieces.
2. In the meantime, sauté the mushrooms in olive oil.
3. Combine the chicken, mushrooms, onions, gravy and seasonings.
4. Pour a quarter of the mixture into four large, oven-safe coffee mugs.
5. Roll out the prepared crust and use a large cookie cutter or paring knife to cut four circles of crust.
6. Top the mugs with the crust and bake at 350 degrees until the crust is golden brown.

Skip the long drawn out meals and let your casserole do the work.

How do you get your children to eat more fiber? Whole grain bread is often a challenge. Instead, children want to munch on sandwiches made with fluffy white bread. But what if there were easy ways to get fiber into your children? What if you could turn some of their favorite meals into high-fiber meals? Best of all, what if your children never knew they were eating a healthy meal? Well, guess what? You can prepare a high-fiber meal that your children will love. Best of all, it takes less than an hour to prepare.

They'll Never Know Chili
Serves 8 to 10

• olive oil
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 large green peppers, chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• ½ tablespoon chili powder
• fresh, ground pepper, to taste
• 1 ½ cups hot water
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 15-ounce can of chopped tomatoes
• 2 (15-ounce) cans of tomato sauce
• 2 (15-ounce) cans of black beans
• 2 (15-ounce) cans of kidney beans
• hot pepper sauce, to taste

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add onions, peppers, garlic, ½ tablespoon of chili powder and ground pepper. Sautee until the onions become translucent.
2. In the meantime, mix 2 tablespoons of chili powder and cumin with the hot water.
3. Once the vegetables are cooked, add the chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasoned water.
4. Drain the beans, rinse them thoroughly and add them to the pot.
5. Season with hot sauce and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the flavors have combined.

Hidden Fiber Sundaes
Serves 4

• 8 apricots, cut in half lengthwise and pitted
• 2 cups of fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt
• 1 cup of healthy granola

1. Grill the apricots until slightly brown.
2. Top with frozen yogurt and granola.

Meals can be high-fiber without your children knowing it. The key is to change recipes so that they contain high-fiber ingredients. Just imagine it, a healthy meal that doesn't have your children packing their bags and running off to grandma's house.

Cooler weather makes you crave hearty meals. This is one time you won't find what you're looking for in a fast food restaurant. Instead, you need to spend a few minutes in the kitchen. You don't have to slave over a stove to prepare a hearty meal. Best of all, you don't have to slip into those elastic waistband pants to enjoy a hearty meal. There are several hearty meals that are actually good for you.

20 Minute Beef and Vegetable Soup
Serves 4 to 6

1 pound 93-percent lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
4 cans of reduced-sodium condensed tomato soup
4 cans of water (use the soup cans)
2 to 3 cups of frozen mixed vegetables, depending on the thickness you prefer

1. Brown ground beef with onions until the ground beef is cooked through and onions are translucent.
2. Stir in the tomato soup, water, and frozen vegetables.
3. Cook until heated through.
4. Serve with side salad and whole wheat rolls.

Cheesy Chicken with Broccoli
Serves 4

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1/3 can of milk (use soup can)
4 ounces of 2-percent shredded cheddar cheese
Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
2 cups of frozen broccoli, thawed
4 cups of cooked brown rice

1. Bake chicken in a deep pan at 425 degrees until cooked through, about 30 minutes.
2. In the meantime, combine the soup, milk, cheese and pepper in a large bowl.
3. Add the broccoli to the soup mixture and pour over the cooked chicken.
4. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
5. Serve over top brown rice.

Tip: Microwavable rice saves time and dirty dishes.

Hearty meals don't have to be loaded with fat and calories. They also don't have to take hours to cook. Even on a Monday night, you can have a hearty meal that you can feel good about serving to your children. Best of all, you didn't have to grab your wallet and head for the drive thru.

Who doesn't love comfort food? Unfortunately, many types of comfort food are loaded with fat and calories. How can you prepare a comforting dish that doesn't make your entire family wobble like penguins? All you need is healthier recipes. Luckily, you came to right place.

Bacon Cheese Fries
Serves 4 to 6

1 small bag of frozen seasoned French fries
4 ounces of 2-percent, shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup real bacon bits (ex. Hormel)

1. Heat oven according to French fry package.
2. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Layer French fries in a single layer and spray with additional cooking spray.
4. Bake according to package direction, turning the fries halfway through the cooking process.
5. Once done, immediately add the cheese and bacon bits.
6. Serve immediately with reduced-fat or fat-free ranch dressing.

Creamy Chicken with Vegetables and Pasta
Serves 4

1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
1 can of 98-percent fat-free cream of chicken soup
1/3 can of 2-percent milk (use soup can to measure)
2 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 cups of frozen vegetable and pasta blend

1. Cook olive oil and chicken in a skillet over medium heat until cooked through.
2. In the meantime, combine the soup, milk, cheese, pepper, vegetable and pasta blend.
3. Once the chicken is cooked, lower the heat and add the soup mixture.
4. Allow the mixture to heat until bubbly.
5. Serve a side salad and whole wheat rolls.

Almost-Sugar-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Serves 8

1 large box of sugar-free, cook-and-serve chocolate pudding
Milk needed to prepare pudding
6 tablespoons of reduced-fat peanut butter
1 graham cracker pie crust

1. Cook pudding according to package directions for pie filling.
2. Once you take the pudding off the heat, stir in the peanut butter.
3. Pour into pie crust and refrigerate until set.
4. Serve with sugar-free whipped topping.

Slip on a pair of sweatpants and enjoy the comforts of fall.

Fall is right around the corner. You can almost smell the bonfires and hear the crackling of leaves. More importantly, you can almost taste the pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, taking time to enjoy all the pleasures of fall is something people rarely get to do. Instead, parents are usually rushing children to practices, while still trying to get a healthy meal on the table. Is it even possible to enjoy fall, with all the other things you need to do? Yes. All you need to do is
incorporate fall ingredients into your meals.

Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes with Cranberry Syrup
Serves 4

1 ½ cups of whole wheat pancake mix, plus the ingredients required by the brand you choose
¾ cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce

1. Prepare the pancake mix according to the package directions, making sure to stir pumpkin and spices into wet ingredients.
2. Fold pecans into batter.
3. Cook pancakes according to package directions.
5. In the meantime, heat cranberry sauce in the microwave until melted. Serve over pancakes.

Turkey Wraps with Apple Cranberry Relish
Serves 4

½ a pound of fresh cranberries
½ cup of sugar substitute (ex. Splenda)
½ cup water
Splash of orange juice
1 Granny Smith Apple
16 ounces of turkey breast, thinly sliced
4 slices of Gouda
Toasted pumpkin seeds
4 whole wheat tortillas

1. Prepare the relish early in the day by combining the cranberries, sugar
substitute, water and orange juice. Boil the ingredients in a small
saucepan until the cranberries begin to pop. Chill for at least 5
hours. Before serving, dice the Granny Smith Apple and stir into the
relish.
2. Place 4 ounces of turkey, 1 slice of Gouda, and some toasted pumpkin seeds on each tortilla.
3. Top each wrap with relish, roll the wrap, and enjoy.
4. Serve with a side salad or baked potato chips.

Tip: Warm cranberry relish can be served over frozen vanilla yogurt for a tasty fall treat.

Who said fall flavors had to be reserved for Thanksgiving? Slip on a jacket and head to the store for some tasty fall ingredients.

Is there anything easier than hitting the drive-thru on a weekday morning? Sure there is. All the weight that comes from those fast food meals is extremely easy to put on. Seriously though, many parents do choose to stop at fast food restaurants while taking their children to school. After all, it's impossible to prepare breakfast in less than 20 minutes, right? Wrong. You can actually prepare a low calorie breakfast in a matter of minutes.

Spicy Chicken Breakfast Burritos
Serves 4

1 cup of refrigerated egg substitute
Salt, to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Chopped pickled jalapenos, to taste
4 ounces of 2% shredded cheddar cheese
1 pound of leftover chicken breast, pulled or shredded
Taco sauce, to taste
1 cup of black beans
4 whole wheat tortillas

1. Season egg substitute with salt and pepper and cook according to package directions. Right before the cooking is complete, add the jalapenos and cheese.
2. In the meantime, microwave the pulled/shredded chicken with the taco sauce until heated through.
3. After the chicken has heated, microwave the black beans until hot.
4. Place a quarter of each ingredient in one tortilla and roll to form a burrito.

Tip: If you're taking burritos on the go, make sure to roll each burrito in aluminum foil to help prevent messes.

Waffle Berry Sandwiches
Serves 4

8 whole wheat frozen waffles
8 tablespoons of fat-free strawberry cream cheese
1 pound of strawberries, sliced
4 kiwis, sliced

1. Toast waffles and spread each with 1 tablespoon of cream cheese.
2. Top four waffles with sliced strawberries and kiwi.
3. Top with additional waffles to create sandwiches.

Tips: To prevent cream cheese from melting too much, allow the waffles to cool slightly.
If you prepare waffles on the weekends, you can freeze extras and save money.

Preparing breakfast at home doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. Best of all, kids will never realize they're eating something healthy. And, when you don't have to visit the fast food restaurants, you get to keep your slippers on a little bit longer.

Got any recipe ideas? Post below!

Remember the Sunday dinners your mother always made? Unfortunately, parents rarely have time to put a skillet meal on the table, let alone a beef roast. Is it possible to make some of the dishes your mother made, while running around like a chicken with its head cut off? Sure. You just need to learn a few new tricks.

Your mother probably spent hours preparing the perfect beef roast. If you had all day to cook, would you honestly be cooking? After all, you spend hours running your children from one practice to another. Still, that doesn't mean you can't prepare a delicious beef roast.

Easy Slow Cooked Beef Roast
Serves 4

• 2 pound sirloin beef roast
• 1 pound of baby carrots
• 2 large onions, quartered
• 1 pound of red potatoes, quartered
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• Sea salt, to taste

1. Combine the carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, salt, and pepper in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place the beef roast on top of the vegetables, fat side up. Add Worcestershire sauce and additional salt and pepper.
3. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
4. Serve with whole wheat rolls and a simple side salad.

Who can forget those belly popping desserts you mother always made on Sunday? You were already stuffed from her wonderful beef roast. But hey, you could always undo the top button of your pants right? Instead of turning your children into chubby little Oompa Loompas, why not prepare a dessert that's low on calories and high in taste?

Berries and "Cream" Parfaits
Serves 4

• 2 cups of sliced strawberries
• 2 tablespoons of sugar substitute (a brand that tastes like real sugar)
• ¼ of an angel food cake
• 1 cup of blackberries
• 1 cup of raspberries

To make the fat-free whipped topping:

1. Macerate the strawberries by adding sugar substitute and allowing them to sit until a syrup forms.
2. Layer the angel food cake, berries, and whipped topping in 4 tall parfait glasses and serve.

"It's the hap-happiest season of all." At least that's how parents feel. Kids on the other hand are looking at the calendar in complete horror. It's almost here. It's finally time to send the kids back to school. Admit it, you're about to burst with anticipation. Of course, even if you're a stay-at-home parent, you must also admit that meal time is about to change. There will now be after school activities that leave you running all over town. At least once or twice a week, you're going to scratch your head and wonder what on earth you're going to make for dinner. That's when a well-stocked pantry will come in handy.

A well-stocked pantry should have everything you need to prepare a meal in a matter of minutes. Even after soccer and piano practice, you should be able to stuff your family's bellies full of a delicious meal. This means having items like pasta, canned vegetables and fruit, pasta sauce, canned meat and fish, condiments, bread, baking supplies and spices. With these ingredients on hand, even a healthy meal is easy.

Take It On the Go Tuna Pasta Salad
Serves four

• 1 pound whole wheat pasta, your favorite shape
• 2 cans of solid white albacore tuna
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 1 red onion, chopped
• ½ cup green olives, sliced
• 1 cup fat-free Italian dressing

1. Cook the pasta and toss with the other ingredients.
2. Serve with whole wheat rolls.

With all the after school activities going on, your kids will need a boost of energy. A well-stocked pantry will have everything you need to prepare a healthy trail mix.

Healthy Chocolate Trail Mix
Serves four

• 4 cups of granola
• 1 cup of dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup of walnuts
• 1 cup dried cranberries

1. Mix the ingredients together thoroughly.
2. Portion out into zip-top bags for easy serving.

Even though the next few months will be crazy, that doesn't mean you can't put a homemade meal on the table. Slip on a pair of fashionable sneakers and enjoy the great back to school season.

Do you have any back to school lunch ideas? Comment below!

Chinese food is not only easy to make, but you can have a meal on the table in less than 30 minutes. The following are just a couple easy recipes to get you started.

Many families love to visit a Chinese restaurant, at least once a week. And what's not to love? There are so many different dishes to choose from, especially when you choose from the buffet. Unfortunately, Chinese food can be quite unhealthy. After all, many Chinese foods are deep fried and coated in sugary sauces. How can you enjoy the flavor of Chinese dishes, without expanding your waistband? Why, you make them yourself of course. Chinese food is not only easy to make, but you can have a meal on the table in less than 30 minutes. The following are just a couple easy recipes to get you started.

Chicken Fried Rice
Serves 4

• 1 box of chicken flavored rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 cup green onion tops, chopped
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1. Brown the rice mixture in olive oil over medium heat. Once brown, add the water and seasoning packet and cook according to package directions.
2. Five minutes before the rice has finished cooking, stir in the cooked chicken and finish cooking.
3. Once cooked, top with green onions and slivered almonds.
4. Serve with baked egg rolls.

Baked Chicken Egg Rolls
Serve 4

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 ounces 98% lean ground chicken
• 1 package of cole slaw mix
• 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 8 egg roll wrappers
• Nonstick cooking spray

1. Pour olive oil into a large skillet and cook ground chicken until almost done.
2. Add the cole slaw mix and cook until chicken is thoroughly cooked and vegetables begin to wilt.
3. Add soy sauce to filling and roll in egg roll wrappers.
4. Spray the bottom of a cookie sheet and the tops of the egg rolls. Bake at 400 degrees until golden brown.

The perfect way to end your Chinese meal is to serve an exotic Asian fruit, such as star fruit. Your children will love the unique shape and you'll love the fact that star fruit only contains 40 calories and 0 grams of fat.

Any recipes you want to share? Comment below!

When hot weather finally arrives, many people turn to restaurants. No one wants to add even more heat to their sweltering home. Even those that have air conditioning avoid cooking for fear of increasing their energy bill. Thankfully, there are meals you can make without suffering over that long feared hot stove

Refreshing Tuna Salad Pepper Cups
Serve 4

• 4 large green bell peppers
• 2 (6) ounce cans of solid white tuna
• 1 small sweet onion, finely chopped
• 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup of fat-free mayonnaise
• Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

1. Remove the tops of the four large bell peppers, along with the seeds and ribs.
2. Drain the tuna and mix with the onion, chopped bell pepper, cheese, mayonnaise, and cracked black pepper.
3. Fill the large bell peppers with the tuna salad and serve with crackers.

Chopped Pork Barbeque Sandwiches
Serves 8

• 2 pound pork sirloin roast
• Barbeque sauce, your favorite brand, to taste
• Sliced pickles
• Romaine lettuce
• Sliced tomatoes
• 8 Kaiser rolls

1. Place the roast in a slow cooker, fat side up. Allow the roast to cook on low for 10 to 12 hours.
2. Once cooked, remove the roast from the slow cooker and remove the layer of fat.
3. Using a chef's knife and meat fork, carefully chop the meat into small pieces.
4. Add barbeque sauce and stir to combine.
5. Place on Kaiser rolls with pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes.
6. Serve with baked potato chips.

Angel Berry Parfaits

• ½ of an angel food cake, cut into bite sized pieces
• 2 cups of fat-free vanilla pudding
• 1 cup of blackberries
• 1 cup of raspberries
• 1 cup of strawberries

1. Fill four tall glasses with half of the angel food cake pieces.
2. Top the angel food cake with half of the vanilla pudding.
3. Add a layer of the berries.
4. Repeat the layers, ending with berries.

Remember. Summer meals don't have to come from a restaurant. You can easily prepare delicious meals, while still keeping your home nice and cool.

Happy cool and refreshing summer eating!

Got any ideas for recipes that don't require hours over a stove? Let us know, comment below!

Serve classic drive-in food that's actually healthy.

Everyone remembers the greasy hamburgers they used to get at the drive-in. They were something your grandparents shared with your parents and then your parents shared with you. Unfortunately, times have changed and sharing this meal with your kids seems out of the question. The fat and calories are simply too much for a society where juvenile diabetes affects so many children. Luckily, there is a way to re-create those classic hamburgers.

One of the most classic hamburgers is the pizza burger. What kid wouldn't love pizza sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on their hamburger? This healthy meal is sure to be a big hit.

Low-Fat Italian Pizza Burgers
Serve 4

• 1 pound of 93-percent lean ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, finely minced
• 1 cup of pizza sauce
• 4 slices of part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 4 whole wheat hamburger buns

1. Mix the ground beef, onion and garlic together in a medium-sized bowl and shape into patties.
2. Cook the patties in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through.
3. Top each patty with ¼ cup sauce and one slice of cheese.
4. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and cook until the cheese has melted.
5. Serve on whole wheat buns with baked French fries.

Of course, what drive-in would be complete without a chili cheeseburger? It's still a popular favorite, but it's also a heart attack on a plate. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be. You can easily turn this into a healthy meal.

Veggie Chili Cheeseburgers
Serves 4

• 1 pound of 93-percent lean ground beef
• ½ tablespoon chili power
• ¼ tablespoon cumin
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 2 cups of low-calorie vegetarian chili
• 4 slices of cheddar cheese
• 4 whole wheat hamburger buns

1. Mix the ground beef, chili powder, cumin, onion and jalapeno in a bowl and shape into patties.
2. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until the patties are cooked through.
3. Once cooked, place each patty on a bottom bun and top with a ½ cup of the heated chili. Add a slice of cheese, any preferred condiments and the top part of the bun.
4. Serve with baked French fries.

If you have any recipes ideas, improvements, suggestions, please comment below and let us know! Let us in on some of your secret recipes!