Crawfish bisque, jambalaya, and seafood pasta--these are the Louisiana dishes we love, and they're packed with the flavors we crave. Yet so often, these are the very foods we avoid because of the dreaded fword: fat. Culinary dietitian Shelly Marie Redmond wants you to forget the myth that because it tastes great, it can't be good for you. Built around the cornerstone of a well-stocked pantry, the recipes in Skinny Louisiana . in the Kitchenmarry the authentic and delicious flavors of Louisiana cooking with principles of healthy eating. Redmond has done all the work for you: a list of pantry essentials offers substitutes for ingredients high in calories (such as Greek yogurt instead of butter), and a shopping guide helps you to plan a successful and efficient trip to the grocery store. Recipes such as Spectacular Skinny Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms, Sizzling Sweet-Potato Fries, Mardi Gras Mambo Cajun Rice Dressing, and Skinny Louisiana Cajun Chicken Pasta let you celebrate the best of Louisiana's eats without compromising your health. You can have your cake--and you can eat it, too! A culinary dietitian, speaker, spokesperson, and founder of the Skinny Louisianabrand, Shelly Marie Redmond lives for the kitchen.

Redmond is also co-owner of Eberhardt Physical Therapy in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she works with clients on issues such as weight loss, diabetes, and food allergies. A highly sought-after media personality, Redmond serves as a nutrition expert for several news and morning shows. Marlyn Monette is a freelance writer and cookbook author. She has served as food editor for Portfolio Magazineand been featured on several television cooking programs. Monette is the author of So Good . Make You Slap Your Mama!and has contributed recipes to other notable cookbooks, including Pelican's Meanwhile, Back at Café du Monde . : Life Stories about Food.