Virginia Willis is not only an authority on Southern cooking, a French-trained chef, and a veteran cookbook author; she is also a proud Southerner who adores eating and cooking for family and friends. So when she needed to drop a few pounds and generally lighten up her diet, the most important criterion for her new lifestyle was that all the food had to taste delicious. The result is Lighten Up, Y'all, a soul-satisfying and deeply personal collection of Virginia's new favorite recipes. All the classics are covered--from a comforting Southern Style Shepherd's Pie with Grits to warm, melting Broccoli Mac and Cheese to Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie. Each dish is packed with real Southern flavor, but made with healthier, more wholesome ingredients and techniques. Wherever you are on your health and wellness journey, Lighten Up, Y'all has the recipes, tools, and inspiration you need to make the nourishing, down-home Southern food you love.

Includes index.

Starters and nibbles -- Salads and slaws -- From the garden -- Grains, grits, and other starchy goodness -- Seafood and shellfish -- Poultry -- Pork, beef and lamb -- Soups and stews -- Biscuits, bread and other baked goods -- Sweet indulgences.