Bobby Deen's everyday eats

Bobby Deen, a television food personality, offers 120 quick recipes in this cookbook, each under 350 calories and ready in less than half an hour from start to finish. His cooking is rooted in Southern food, and he shows how to keep that flavor while cutting calories for people with crowded schedules.

The recipes cover five areas: hearty salads and soups, grilled dishes for weeknights, meatless main courses, seasonal side dishes, and lighter desserts. Sample dishes include Light and Easy Scallops and Grits, Lightened-Up Beer Cheese Soup, Peachy Pulled BBQ Chicken, Shrimp Coconut Curry, Creamy Spinach Polenta, and Lighter Chocolate-Mint Shakes.

Beyond the recipes, Deen gives advice on stocking a fridge and pantry to save time and money, and on choosing lower-calorie options when dining out. A sample weekly menu plan of 1,500 calories a day ties the ideas together. Every recipe includes nutritional information.