From a Plant, LDL Control

· Benecol caramel and chocolate chews . These sweet chews are available online at http://www.benecol.com/ . What they provide : 0.85 grams of stanols per piece. Calories : 20 per chew. Cost: $7.79 per bag of 20 chews; four bags for $28.95 .

· CocoaVia chocolates. Produced by Mars, the candy company that makes M&M's and Dove chocolates, CocoaVia chocolate-covered almonds and other products were introduced in September. Find them at selected Wal-Mart and Target stores, and in early 2006 at Wegmans, Walgreen's and natural food stores. You can also buy CocoaVia online at http://www.cocoavia.com/ . What they provide : 1.1 to 1.3 grams of sterols per serving, depending on the product. Calories: 80 to 140. Cost: About $1 each; minimum order by mail $30.

· Lifetime low-fat cheese. Cheese is often off limits for those with elevated cholesterol, so here's a way to have cheese in four flavors: cheddar, extra sharp cheddar, mozzarella and jalapeno jack. Available at Safeway, Whole Foods and other chains as well as specialty stores and online at http://www.lifetimefatfree.com/ . What it provides: 0.65 grams of sterols per ounce. Calories: 55 per ounce, about half the calories of regular cheese . Cost: $3.99 to $4.99 per eight ounces .

· Minute Maid Heart Wise orange juice. This juiced-up juice can be found in most grocery stores. What it provides : one gram of sterols per eight ounces. Calories: 110 per eight ounces. Cost: $3.60 per half-gallon -- same price as other juice.

· Nature Valley Healthy Heart chewy granola bars. These bars come in honey nut and oatmeal raisin flavors. What they provide : 0.4 grams of sterols per bar. Calories: 160. Cost: about $2 to $3 per box of 12 bars -- comparable to other granola bars.

· Rice Dream Heartwise rice drink. This vegetable product can be used in place of milk on cereal, as a beverage or in recipes. What it provides : 0.65 grams of sterols per eight ounces. Calories: 130 to 140 per eight ounces, depending on the flavor. Cost: about $2.50 quart.

· Spreads . In 2000, Benecol and Take Control became the first margarine-like spreads with synthesized sterols and stanols to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. SmartBalance OmegaPlus Buttery spread contains naturally occurring sterols that can be used in smaller quantities. All spreads are available at major grocery chains and many specialty stores. What they provide: 1.7 grams of stanols per tablespoon (Benecol); 0.45 grams sterols (SmartBalance), 1.7 grams sterols (Take Control). Calories: (Benecol) 70 per tablespoon; 50 (light); (SmartBalance) 80; (Take Control) 80. Cost/tub: About $5 (Benecol); $3.70 (Take Control), $2.49 (Smart Balance).

· Yoplait Healthy Heart yogurt. This yogurt with stanols comes in cherry orchard, harvest peach, strawberry and strawberry banana. What it provides: 0.4 grams per six ounces. Calories : 180. Cost: About $1. ·

Share your tips or ask questions about nutrition and activity when Sally Squires hosts the Lean Plate Club online chat, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. today, on www.washingtonpost.com. Can't join live? E-mail leanplateclub@washpost.com anytime. To learn more, and subscribe to our free e-newsletter, visit www.leanplateclub.com.