Low calorie
Calling a recipe low calorie depends on the type of dish. (Because cookies are smaller than dessert servings, they get their very own category.)

Entrée: 350 calories or less per serving
Side/salad/dessert: 200 calories or less per serving
Cookie: 100 calories or less per serving
Appetizer: 70 calories or less per serving
Condiment: 50 calories or less per tablespoon

Low fat
For a recipe to be called low fat, it must have 3 g of total fat or less per serving.

Sodium smart
The recipe must have 140 mg of sodium or less per serving.

Fibre-rich
The recipe must have at least 4 g of fibre per serving.

Calcium-rich
The recipe must contain at least 17% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for calcium per serving.

Heart-healthy
Calling a recipe heart-healthy depends on the type of dish.

Entrée: 200 mg of sodium or less as well as 3 g of saturated fat or less per serving
Side/salad/dessert: 200 mg of sodium or less as well as 2 g of saturated fat or less per serving
Cookie/appetizer: 100 mg of sodium or less as well as 1 g of saturated fat or less per serving.

Low carb
Calling a recipe low carb depends on the type of dish and how much carbohydrate it contains. It also must be free of concentrated sweeteners, such as sugar, honey, jam, molasses, corn syrup, maple syrup, fruit-juice concentrate and sweet wine (including sherry, port and icewine).

Entrée: 15 g of carbohydrate or less per serving
Side/salad/dessert: 7 g of carbohydrate or less per serving
Cookie/appetizer: 4 g of carbohydrate or less per serving

Diabetes-friendly
For a recipe to be called diabetes-friendly, it must qualify as both heart-healthy and low carb (see above), or it must qualify as heart-healthy plus contain one of these main ingredients:
• whole grains, popcorn
• (in any form) barley, bulgur, buckwheat, couscous, al dente pasta/noodles
• rice, including basmati, brown, converted, long grain, parboiled
• pumpernickel bread
• any vegetable except potato (though sweet potato is OK)
• any fruit
• low-fat dairy products
• baked beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, soybeans, split peas

Blend for baby
Recipes deemed OK for you to puree for your six-to-12-month-old need to be low in sodium and not be a dessert, a raw food, a salad or a soft cheese. The recipe must also be free of alcohol, honey, strong spicing.

Entrée: 450 mg of sodium or less per serving
Side: 220 mg of sodium or less per serving
Appetizer: 110 mg of sodium or less per serving

Kid-friendly
Calling a recipe kid-friendly depends on the amount of sodium (RDI is lower for kids) as well as the exclusion of alcohol and strong spicing or flavours (think cayenne pepper or sharp cheddar). Kid-friendly dishes are aimed at children aged one to eight and tend to have homogeneous textures.

Entrée: 480 mg of sodium or less per serving
Side/salad/dessert: 240 mg of sodium or less per serving
Cookie/appetizer: 120 mg of sodium or less per serving
Condiment/drink: 60 mg of sodium or less per serving

Prenatal pick
Dishes that are considered a great pick for pregnant women must meet certain iron and folate requirements (see below) or contain a 75 mg serving (for an entrée) of any of the following cooked seafood: anchovies, catfish, clams, crab, herring, flounder, lobster, mussels, roughy, salmon, sole and trout. They must also have no more than 500 mg of sodium (for an entrée) and exclude soft cheese, raw egg and these fishes, which are potentially high in mercury or other pollutants: escolar, mackerel, marlin, shark, swordfish, tilefish and tuna.

Entrée: at least 12% RDI iron and at least 25% RDI folate
Side/salad/dessert: at least 6% RDI iron and at least 13% RDI folate
Cookie/appetizer: at least 3% RDI iron and at least 7% RDI folate

Lactose-free
The recipe must not contain dairy products or any processed ingredients.

Nut-free
The recipe must not contain tree nuts (though coconut and nutmeg are OK), peanuts or any processed ingredients.

Peanut-free
The recipe must not contain peanuts (though tree nuts are OK) or any processed ingredients.

Gluten-free
The recipe must not contain processed ingredients or any of the following:

Contain gluten
• wheat/durum/semolina/farina
• bread crumbs
• croutons
• graham flour
• barley
• bran
• bulgur
• couscous
• pasta (unless gluten-free variety)
• rye
• spelt/dinkel/farro
• triticale
• beer (unless gluten-free variety)
• malt (vinegar, extract or syrup)
• soy sauce
• imitation seafood
• bouillon cubes (unless gluten-free variety)
• stock/broth (unless homemade is specified or it's a gluten-free variety)
• Roquefort cheese (it's made from a rye mould)

May contain gluten
• brewer's yeast
• oats
• olives
• dates
• pickles
• mustard
• balsamic vinegar
• apple cider vinegar
• herbal tea
• dried beans
• seasoned nuts/seeds
• rice crackers
• breakfast cereal
• matzo
• baking powder
• icing sugar
• vodka
• whisky
• vermouth
• brandy
• port
• tequila
• seasoning mixes
• curry paste
• baked beans
• seitan/soy products
• tahini
• french fries (they often include flour)
• potato chips (they often include flour)
• sour cream (it often has a thickener with gluten)
• frozen yogurt (it often has a thickener with gluten)

Vegetarian
The recipe must not contain meat, poultry, fish, lard or gelatin, though eggs and dairy products are OK.

Vegan
The recipe must be vegetarian and also exclude eggs, dairy, soy cheese, honey, food colouring, nondairy creamers or processed ingredients that could contain any of the above.

Raw
The recipe must not contain processed foods, sugar, sweet wine, vinegar, tahini and nothing can be heated above 104°F/40°C. Olive oil and animal products (think steak tartare and beef carpaccio) are OK.

Easy
The recipe uses basic cooking techniques only.

Simple
The recipe has fewer than 10 ingredients and no more than 4 method steps.

Fast
The recipe will be ready in 30 minutes or less.

Full of veg
This recipe's main ingredient is a vegetable.

Cookie recipe
This is a cookie recipe; no bars allowed.

Barbecue recipe
This recipe is cooked on a grill or has a barbecue-specific sauce, glaze or rub.

Great for guests
This recipe yields four or more servings and is suitable for a party or entertaining.

One pot
Calling a recipe one pot means that you will need just one skillet or pot to cook your meal.

Special treat
This icon is a reminder that the recipe is a good choice on occasion.

Folate-Rich
Calling a dish folate-rich depends on the type of dish.

Entrée: at least 25% RDI folate
Side/salad/dessert: at least 13% RDI folate
Cookie/appetizer: at least 7% RDI folate