Black Bean

Tortillas aren't the only depository for beans, corn and tomatoes. Let romaine lettuce do the job. Feta cheese supplies a dose of calcium and major flavor. And the honey-lime dressing adds just the right touch of tangy sweetness. Buen provecho!

It's a wrap! Feeding the family? Let everyone be a wrap artist by rolling his own with our recipe, which is filling and not very fattening.

Saturday dinner. From Red Mountain Spa in St. George, Utah. Give lean pork tenderloin a rubdown with executive chef Jim Gallivan's potent adobo chile mix. The spicy bean salsa topper adds fiber but not a lick of fat.

Los Angeles: land of sun, fun, and burritos. Southern California's Mexican-influenced cuisine has the potential to be an all-out fat fest (cheese, sour cream) or a healthy mix of carbs (tortillas, beans) and protein (chicken, beans). A chicken burrito with the full-fat works can tip the scales at nearly 600 calories and 31 fat grams. To slim it down, we stuffed it with all-white-meat chicken, less cheese and nonfat sour cream. We also rolled it in a whole-wheat tortilla for extra fiber.

Top with chopped fresh cilantro, red onions, and grated cheddar cheese, if you like.

Note that the chops need to marinate for at least three days, so begin preparing this dish well in advance. What to drink: A white wine with snappy acidity and lemon-lime notes, like dry Riesling or Grüner Veltliner.

Make or buy a favorite pumpkin pie for dessert. What to drink: A fruit-forward Zinfandel or Malbec.

Healthy bonus: Fiber and potassium from mushrooms; fiber and iron from beans; folate from avocado; potassium from corn

Sarah T. Thibault of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, "I had the best black bean soup at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona. In fact, I had it for lunch every day during our stay. Could you please get the recipe? The soup's incredible!" This is a brothy black bean soup with whole beans, unlike many thicker, heavier versions that are puréed. Serve it over rice if you're in the mood for a heartier main course.

Here, sautéed polenta triangles add another dimension to a southwestern-style stew.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve this with white rice for a dinnertime side dish or alongside ham and eggs for a satisfying breakfast.

Begin preparing this a day before serving.

Serve with: Deli rice salad (add some thawed frozen corn kernels). Dessert: Melon wedges drizzled with triple sec and fresh lime juice.

Black beans teamed with the red, yellow and green bell peppers provide an interesting contrast in color and texture.