Faith Middleton Show: "I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening!"

From Publishers Weekly

More a guide to smarter shopping than cooking, the latest from Alexander (The Biggest Loser Cookbook) gives dieters largely healthy options in 150 basic low-calorie recipes. Alexander admits her recipes are geared for convenience, unabashedly utilizing processed foods and artificial ingredients; though she does offer substitutions for organic or all-natural diets, readers will want to pay attention to nutritional information (Mafia's Favorite Turkey Sandwich, for instance, has over 1,600 mg of sodium per serving, while Tequila Cheese Fondue is measured in two-tablespoon serving sizes).

Novices and those pressed for time will be pleased to find more assembly than actual cooking: Pigs in Comforters consists of only four ingredients-olive oil spray, low-fat beef hot dogs, biscuit dough and mustard-and Spicy Tuna Salad comes together in seconds using tuna, low-fat mayo and chili sauce. Almost all of her recipes derive their health benefits from the inclusion of low- or reduced-fat store-bought ingredients: Ravio-Sagne, a ravioli-based riff on lasagna, relies on canned sauce, ravioli and low-fat cheese; Cheesy Brown Rice consists of cooked brown rice and Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese Squares; Peppermint Brownie "Pizza" consists of fat-free whipped topping spread over a low-fat brownie (made from a box mix).