While I was standing in the checkout line at the grocery store last week, I counted five, that’s right, five women’s magazines with a headline telling me how to get rid of my “belly fat.” While I don’t believe any of the gimmicks they propose, I could do with a little belly-fat reduction—especially after the ice cream jag I’ve been on. Time to find some slim-down recipes for fall, now that salad season and summer tomatoes are long gone.

You can’t beat a hearty bean soup (201 calories) for a filling one-bowl meal. If you’re a bread head the way I am, a 275-calorie toasted tartine lets you get a sandwich fix without that second slice of bread. And I’ve finally found a snack that satisfies my sweet-spicy-salty-crunchy cravings: spiced banana chips. At just 167 calories per serving, they’re the most healthful munchie I’ve come across in a long time.

Oh, but wouldn’t it be great if getting rid of belly fat were as easy as eating yummy food! I suppose if I really want to see results, I’m going to have to throw some exercise in the mix too.

Mary Margaret Chappell
Food Editor Vegetarian Times