Healthy Recipes From Oprah's Diet Guru

Jan. 20, 2008 — -- Even if you've slipped up on your New Year's resolution to eat better, hope remains. Bob Greene, who became famous for helping talk show queen Oprah Winfrey lose weight, wants to help.

His best-selling book, "The Best Life Diet," is helping thousands to slim down. His plan has three phases and even includes information about which six foods to avoid. Get some of the book's featured recipes below.

Greene's six foods to avoid:

Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie
Makes 2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Nutritional Information

1 Serving
Calories: 326
Protein: 18 g
Carbohydrate: 43 g
Dietary Fiber: 4 g
Total Fat: 10 g
Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 336 mg
Calcium: 306 mg

NOTE: Round out your breakfast with ½ cup of blackberries (fresh or frozen, thawed) and a Wasa cracker spread with a teaspoon of Smart Balance spread to bring you up to about 400 calories and 9 g of fiber.

Chicken Wrap with Fresh Basil
Makes 1 serving
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

Directions

1. Combine chicken, celery, carrots, mushroom, onion, mayonnaise, mustard and basil in a medium-sized bowl. Season with salt.
2. On one of the rounded ends of the flatbread, place chicken mixture and roll.

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 300
Protein: 30 g
Carbohydrate: 26 g
Dietary Fiber: 11 g
Total Fat: 11 g
Saturated Fat: 0.8 g
Cholesterol: 53 mg
Sodium: 733 mg
Calcium: 71 mg

NOTE: Round out this meal by having a heaping cup of chopped fruit topped with a 6-oz. of light yogurt (i.e., Yoplait) .

Makes 4 Servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Using a large non-stick sauté pan, sauté garlic in oil.
2. Add spinach and toss until almost wilted.
3. Add beans, pasta and sauce. Toss until heated through.
4. On the final toss, add in the fresh basil.
5. Top with fresh pepper and Parmesan and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information:

1 Serving
Calories: 360
Protein: 18 g
Carbohydrate: 55 g
Dietary Fiber: 7 g
Total Fat: 8
Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
Cholesterol: 4 mg
Sodium: 427 mg
Calcium: 161 mg

NOTE: Serve with a salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, and 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, tossed with Wish-Bone Spritzer Balsamic Breeze Vinaigrette Dressing.

These high calcium snacks are about 185 calories each. Depending on calorie needs, have one or two snacks daily.
1. Crackers and Cheese; 2 slices Wasa crispbread (i.e. Hearty or Multigrain) topped with 1½ ounces reduced fat cheddar or Swiss.
2. Yogurt and almonds. 6-oz. Yoplait Light such as Blueberry Patch (or any flavor) topped with½ ounce (about 11) almonds
3. Apple Tea Latte.

Latte: Bring to boil 1 cup 8th Continent Original Soymilk with a small apple (chopped, skin and seeds included) and a teaspoon honey. Steep a bag of Lipton Black Pearl pyramid tea into soymilk mixture, remove after 3 minutes. Strain and serve.

Serve with a small slice whole grain toast, spread with a teaspoon of Smart Balance Buttery Spread.

Have no more than 150 calories daily of the following:
Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches (or Cones)
Edy's Fruit Bars

Apple (small)

6-ounce bag spinach

Garlic (or, get jarred minced garlic)

Small container fresh basil

1 jar Smart Balance Chunky Peanut Butter

1 can white beans, rinsed and drained

1 box Barilla Plus Rotini

1 jar Barilla Tomato Basil sauce

Bertolli Extra Virgin olive oil

Wasa Multigrain, Hearty, or other Wasa with Best Life Approved seal

Almonds (at least 1/2 oz.)

Lipton Black Pearl pyramid tea

Honey

Whole wheat bread

Better'n Eggs All Whites (16 oz. carton)

Grated or shredded Parmesan (at least 1 ounce)

Reduced fat cheddar (i.e., Cabot 50%) or Swiss cheese

Smart Balance Buttery Spread, original, 67%

1 bottle 8th Continent Light Chocolate Soymilk

1 bottle 8th Continent Original Soymilk

Yoplait Light

Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches (or Cones)

Edy's Fruit Bars