Smoothies can be enjoyed year round, but I love them in the late spring and summer, when a variety of fresh fruit is abundant. I almost always add frozen bananas to my smoothies, as they make the smoothies thicker and frothier. It's a good way of using those overripe bananas you might otherwise throw away. Simply peel them, wrap them in cling film, and put them in the freezer ready for your next batch of smoothies! Low fat smoothies can be healthy so long as we don't add too much sugar; of course, you can always replace sugar with your favorite kind of sweetener.

_{Banana Berry Smoothie © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com}

A holiday weekend usually means a lie-in followed by a nice breakfast. And for our family that would be pancakes. Our favorite kind of pancakes are blueberry pancakes, made with plump, fresh blueberries, although frozen ones are just fine. While pancakes may not be the healthiest of breakfasts, using lower-fat ingredients, limiting the number of pancakes you eat, and not going crazy with the toppings and sides will all help to save fat calories, and indeed total calories. Personally, I'm content with a drizzle of warm maple syrup or a fresh fruit compote made from lightly sweetened warmed berries.

Slash fat and calories by using low-fat yogurt in place of sour cream, cream, and mayonnaise in savory dishes. You can use low-fat yogurt in and on desserts, and in all kinds of other recipes, too. Fat-free yogurt, especially nonfat Greek yogurt, which is naturally thick and creamy, can also be used in many recipes, even cooked dishes.

More About Low-Fat Yogurt

• Yogurt for Dessert
• Review: Oikos 0% Fat Greek Yogurt
• Make Yogurt Cheese

_{Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com}

Warm banana bread out of the oven is hard to beat. Warm blueberry banana bread is even more so. This sweet treat is made healthier by using low fat buttermilk and heart-healthy canola oil instead of butter, and replacing a little more than half of the flour with whole wheat pastry flour. Why whole wheat pastry flour? It has less gluten, which makes for more tender quick breads, cakes and muffins, yet it still provides a nice boost of fiber.

_{Blueberry Banana Bread Photo © 2012 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com}