Our Favorite Healthy Chowders

No tricks here: Modest amounts of butter, bacon, and a mix of reduced-fat milk and half-and-half for richness enhance this version of a New England classic. Don’t forget a few oyster crackers.

Next time you grill, throw on some extra bell pepper, corn, and tomato for this dish. The grilled vegetables are pureed, spreading smoky flavor and thick, creamy texture into every spoonful. A sprinkle of blue cheese on top adds even more layers of flavor. Tomato soup won't be just for cold, rainy afternoons anymore after this.

So good, you’ll think you were transported to New England, this chowder combines the rich flavors of clam, thyme, celery, bacon and more into the perfect dish.

Most chowders only contain a small amount of meat in comparison to vegetables, so making this dish vegetarian was easy. It's warm and filling with lots of hearty potato and sweet corn in a creamy base. Seafood seasoning adds that classic New England flavor without meat, and a sprinkling of green onions and cheese on top punches up both color and taste. Not bad for 15 minutes' work and only 343 calories a serving.