Healthy Pasta?
By Fishmomma
@Fishmomma (11658)
United States
January 27, 2008 10:42pm CST
I like pasta and am trying to eat better. I'm looking for ways to make it taste great, but keep the calories and fat low. I know many sauces are high in calories, but plain pasta doesn't sound like something I would enjoy eating. Any suggestions appreciated, as don't want to feel like I'm missing out on pasta.
9 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
28 Jan 08
You should try some greener options, like pesto sauce made with extra virgin olive oil
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
28 Jan 08
To cut back on calories and sugar, try switching to whole wheat pasta instead of white. That will help you get more whole grains in your diets as well.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
28 Jan 08
Thanks for the suggestion and will try going green. I hope this isn't hard, as my daughter doesn't seem to like green foods.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I will serve it Monday, as I'm ready to make pasta. Thanks for the suggestion.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
18 Feb 08
How about olive oil and garlic with your pasta? If your daughter doesn't like garlic how about topping the macaroni or spaghetti with kidney beans, get a can of goya beans, season them and mix them with elbow or shell macaroni, it's really good, you have the proteins from the beans and no sauce.
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
28 Jan 08
for a lighter fare I like to add not a spaghetti sauce, but, some diced tomatoes with herbs
or
a saute mixture of onions, mushrooms, zucchini and tomatoes ( you can saute these in the tomato juices) add some garlic and basil yum! to this I like to sprinkle on a little grated cheese.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I'm planning to saute up some zucchini this evening with the garlic and basil. I can already smell the garlic now. My daughter can't eat tomatoes, so it has been a challenge to eat. Thanks for the reply.
@ltmoon (1008)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Your healthiest sauce would be marinara, to which you can additional veggies. Another way to serve a low-fat pasta meal is to par-boil your pasta and drain, while draining saute julienned veggies in a pan sprayed with PAM or spray olive oil, add pasta and stir or "flip" in the saute pan and just before serving add just enough fat-free/low-fat italian dressing to barely coat the pasta.
@megumiart (3771)
• United States
28 Jan 08
If you like making sauces from scratch, I'd suggest substituting broth with salt water, or cream with skim milk, and then add some more seasonnings and herbs to keep flavor.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I do like cooking from scratch, as my daughter has a lot of allergies. It was to hard buying items for her to eat from the store shelf. Thanks for the suggestion of salt water over broth. I don't have any choice for milk, as lactose free milk is 1% or 2% milk in this area.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
29 Jan 08
I love pasta too, but it is high in cabs. I used to be able to buy a low carb pasta, but that was well over one year ago.
However, here is a low fat pasta recipe:
LOW FAT PASTA PICANTE
1 pkg. rotelli pasta: spinach, beet, etc.
1 pkg. or bunch frozen or fresh broccoli
1 can kidney beans
1 onion
2 (8 oz.) bottles picante sauce
Cook pasta al dente. Cook broccoli. Slice and slightly cook onion. Heat picante sauce. Add the vegetables to the pasta and then add the picante sauce.
@roniroxas (10559)
• Philippines
28 Jan 08
pasta with clam is healthy, you can use fresh clam or canned ones
http://southernfood.about.com/od/clamsandmussels/r/bln70.htm
@jbrooks (264)
• United States
16 Feb 08
i use the wheat pastas. and i do not add any sauces on the pasta. once it is cooked i shake alittle bit of cheese on it and add a llttle parsley and a little bit of butter. that is all and it is yummy.
if you want to add some meatballs, i make them with some ground turkey and bake them in the oven until they are cooked all the way through.
