This lasagne is a lighter version of the traditional recipe with cottage cheese replacing the rich cheese sauce.

It's great for making in the weekend when you've got some time then pulling out for a quick and delicious mid-week meal that will please the whole  family.

If you’re trying to slim-down, you don’t need to give up on snacking. In fact, it’s encouraged. By eating regularly throughout the day you’re less likely to overeat at meal times.

This muffin recipe from Susan Anderson, head receptionist at Contours Napier, is great for using up your favourite fruits – fresh, tinned or frozen.

If you have a sweet craving it’s always a good idea to make something yourself, that way you know exactly what’s gone into the mix and you can control the portion size.

This fruit pudding recipe from Cheryleita Downie at Contours Glen Innes is so yummy that she swears her guests don't even realise it’s a low-calorie dessert!

We put it to the test and can now happily vouch for its deliciousness.

For most people, food is much more than just fuel for the body.

Eating is an enjoyable experience; a chance to relax and enjoy social interactions with family and friends.

Research suggests that eating well is not only important for our physical well-being, it also plays a key factor in maintaining good mental health.

Here are some tips on optimising your mental health through diet:

We can rebalance our hormones and help our bodies shift fat (particularly the fat around our stomachs) by making small lifestyle changes.

One of the key areas we need to focus on is what food we eat – not just some of the time, but as part of our normal diet. In particular, we should avoid oestrogen-stimulating foods which add to any existing oestrogen imbalance. (see ‘There’s a reason for that tummy!’)

We also want to increase our intake of foods which eliminate excess oestrogen from our systems. 

New Zealand’s ongoing love affair with food, cooking and cook books, including a growing interest in our own culinary history, continues with the recent release of the ABC of Kiwi