COOK BOOKS THAT HELP YOU FIGHT FAT AND STAY SKINNY.

Byline: Heather McPherson Orlando Sentinel 

Trying to cut down on fat?

Squeeze some room for these cookbooks on the kitchen book shelf and you'll have useful information at your fingertips:

``Brand Name Fat-Fighter's Cookbook'' by Sandra Woodruff (Avery Publishing Group; $13.95): With brand-specific recipes, this 213-page book is a good choice for shoppers confused with the dazzling array of low-fat products. Woodruff, a registered dietitian in Florida, has kitchen-tested more than 150 recipes in her book. Healthful cooking tips are sprinkled throughout the book.

``The How-To Book of Healthy Cooking - Good Food That's Good For You'' by the editors of Reader's Digest (Reader's Digest Association; $30): With detailed step-by-step photographs and unintimidating recipes, this is a great book for the health-conscious person who is a bit of a novice in the kitchen.

``Skinny Mexican Cooking'' by Sue Spitler and ``Skinny Pizzas'' by Barbara Grunes (both Surrey Books; $12.95): In ``Skinny Mexican,'' Spitler strips the high-fat reputation from one of this country's most popular ethnic foods. From quesadillas to halibut with poblano sauce, the recipes are robust and flavorful without requiring you to loosen a notch on the belt.

In ``Skinny Pizzas,'' Grunes shows the home cook how to turn America's favorite snack food into a healthful dining choice. The recipes in both books conform to the American Heart Association guidelines.

``Chinese Low-Fat Cooking - 112 Light and Delicious Recipes'' edited by Karen Coune (Macmillan; $16): From General Mills' Betty Crocker kitchens, this Chinese cookbook isn't meant to be a text for cooks who want to learn more about authentic Asian cookery. However, it's an affordable, well-presented effort that can acquaint readers with some of the flavor nuances of Chinese cuisine.

``Taste of Home Down-Home Diabetic Cookbook'' edited by Julie Schnittka (Country Store, Suite 3548, P.O. Box 990, Greendale, Wis. 53129; $19.99, plus $2.50 shipping and handling): Produced by the people who publish Taste of Home magazine, this 322-page book is full of everyday meals created with the diabetic in mind.

``Herb Mixture & Spicy Blends'' edited by Deborah L. Balmuth (Storey Communciations; $12.95): Health-conscious books don't have to scream ``low fat.'' Seasoning blends have long been touted as the key to preparing full-flavored foods without a lot of added fat. If you are unsure about how to make your own blends, this is the book to get you started. The editor has included more than 100 recipes.