The likes of heavy pâtés and mayonnaise-rich prawn cocktails give starters a calorie-cumulating reputation. But eating healthily doesn’t mean you have to cut out this course. To stop you turning into a diet hermit, we’ve put together our top ten favourite healthy starters, including crunchy, flavourful salads, delicious colourful soups and simple meat kebabs. So ditch the detox and enjoy a range of these guilt-free dishes.
Here's a furiously fast way to bring an exotic Eastern flavour to healthy grilled chicken, whether cooked indoors or on the barbecue
Ching-He Huang wraps lettuce wrappers around tender stir-fried beef - a great choice for a tasteful first course
Sophie Grigson's chunky salad makes a pretty addition to a seasonal meze selection, or can be served alone
Tamasin Day Lewis's steamed leeks in a robust mustardy dressing make a simple but delicious starter or light meal
Bill Granger's vibrant green salad makes a wonderfully refreshing starter
Rachel Allen's delicious hearty warming soup is made with chorizo sausage, pasta, tomatoes and herbs and is quick and easy to make
This terrific salad from Ed Baines is bursting with healthy ingredients and utterly delicious to boot!
Mike Robinson's fabulous variation of this delicious classic soup is swirled with peppery watercress purée to give it a fiery kick
Soup takes on a new dimension with Bill Granger's delicious recipe, which combines tasty chicken stock with prawn dumplings
Tamasin Day Lewis's mouth-watering mushrooms are great served hot with veal or chicken, or cold as an appetising starter
