We are nearing the end of February and if you made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or eat healthy, how are you doing?  Are you sticking to your plan or have you already slipped into old habits?  If you are finding it hard to find options to trim the fat from your plate and your waistline, you will be interested in this review.  The Complete Idiot’s Guide To: 200-300-400 Calorie Meals has terrific meal plans and recipes that help you stick to your calorie and weight-loss goals.

Starting with Nutrition 101 and how to set yourself up for success, this book then lays out two-week meal plans for 1300, 1550 or 1800 calories a day. Then you will be turning pages through oodles of healthy low-calorie recipes for Unbeatable Breakfasts.  So many great recipes for Eggstraordinary Eggs like Eggs Florentine, Mushroom Frittata, Hearty Canadian Breakfast, and Huevos Rancheros Wraps to name a few.  Next, they take you to the griddle for more breakfast recipes like Strawberry-Stuffed French Toast, Waffle Ham Sandwiches and Blueberry Pancakes.  Great Grains keeps the breakfast section going with recipes for Steel Cut Oatmeal, Quinoa Porridge and Apple Cider Muffins.  Think breakfast is over yet?  Not a chance, there are recipes for Lazy Weekend Breakfasts and one of my favorites, Drink It All In has so many delicious smoothie recipes like Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie, Tropical Smoothie, Protein Power Smoothie and Raspberry Cocoa Surprise Smoothie.

Lunchtime!  Luscious Lunches starts off with Satisfying Soups like Chicken Ginger Soup, Roasted Squash Soup with Sage, Barley Soup and Vegetable Rice Soup.  Salads galore follows next with Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad, Red Cabbage Slaw, Cranberry and Walnut Chicken Salad and Green Bean and Fennel Salad among others.  Sandwiches like Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers, Open-Faced Italian Sandwiches, Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches and Pulled Chicken Sandwiches are followed by wraps like California Turkey Wraps, Italian Beef Wraps and Black Bean Hummus and Roasted Red Pepper Wraps.

Delicious Dinners is next and Poultry Perfection will give you great recipes for Jerk Chicken, Chicken Picatta, Coconut-Curried Chicken, Chicken Cacciatore and Turkey Cutlets with Apple Compote.  Succulent Beef Dishes features Broiled Steak and Mushrooms, Smoky Stuffed Peppers, Hearty Sloppy Joes and Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.  Under the Sea Suppers is full of great Seafood dishes like Crispy Baked Cod, Cajun Tilapia, Pineapple Ginger Salmon, Grilled Haddock with Lemon-Infused Couscous and Teriyaki Salmon with Spinach and Soba.  Vegetarian Delights features Grilled Summer Vegetables, Caponata, Vegetarian Spring Rolls, Vietnamese Fried Rice, Black Bean and Corn Cakes and Italian-Style Mac and Cheese.  Warming Soups, Stews and Chillies is full of warm you up favorites like Roasted Tomato Soup, Texas Chili, Goulash and Split Pea and Smoked Turkey Soup.  Tantalizing Slow Cooker Meals with recipes for Layered Beef Stew, Chipotle Chicken and Roasted Beef and Peppers rounds out the dinner section.

Sassy Snacks is up next with Savory Bites like Classic Hummus, Spicy Sweet Potato Chips, Bruschetta Carprese and Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms.  Mini Meals has recipes for Loaded Potatoes, Steamed Artichoke with Aioli and Carmelized Onion Pizza while Grab and Go Snacks has recipes for Granola Bars, Cape Cod Trail Mix and Pumpkin-Spiced Popcorn.  Sweet Nothings offers recipes for Caramel and Chocolate Fondue, Angel Food Cake Trifle, Peach Shortcake and Apple Crisp.  Last but not least you need something to wash that all down with so Thirst Quenchers gives you options like Ginger Spritzer, Lemonade and Cherry Fizzy.

The Coplete Idiots Guide is  sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide To: 200-300-400 Calorie Meals.  Thanks to The Complete Idiots Guide for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

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