Diet Friendly Pastas That's Tasty and Healthy: The Top 5
Many Myths Surround Pasta as Being Fattening and Unhealthy when it is the Opposite
Another myth about pasta being fattening and unhealthy is its label as a simple carbohydrate. This is the same category where white bread, cakes and pastries belong. With these simple carbohydrates is when you experience a sugar rush. The excess insulin causes a sudden surge and then fall of energy ultimately leading to weight gain. However, most simple carbs have a high Glycemic Index (GI) which measures a body's sugar level after they've eaten. Pasta has a GI of only 41. This is the same index for pears and other types of healthier breads.
What the biggest culprit of all regarding the pasta fattening myth is what one puts on their spaghetti, linguini or other whole grains and homemade pastas. Heavy sauces, creams and cheeses add calories and eventually weight gain. Even eating too much pasta can be fattening and unhealthy, so portion control and what you put on your pasta is the key to diet friendly meals. Here are five diet friendly pastas you can serve without all the heavy ingredients. Just remember to eat in small portions with healthy ingredients.
1.) Thin Spaghetti - The regular spaghetti is by far the most popular pasta for meals. However, not only are they very low in sodium, but the non-egg varieties are cholesterol-free. Per cup this type of spaghetti and other pastas are an excellent source of folic acid and other essential nutrients such as iron and several B-vitamins. Rather than make the standard meat sauce or meatballs you can replace the meat with vegetables. Then add a light tomato sauce to give it flavor and crunch. Thin spaghetti is ideal for light, thin sauces.
2.) Angel Hair or Capellini (Fine Hairs) - Here's pasta that is also similar to thin spaghetti. Once again it is ideal for a diet friendly, lighter meal where you can serve delicate sauces. Try it in soups, salads and stir- fry meals too.
3.) Linguine (Little Tongues) - With this pasta you can serve it with a variety of sauces, both thick and thin. Linguine is also a superb choice for salads and a stir-fry dish. For a thicker, healthier sauce you can use a blender or juicer to create a combo vegetable puree. Afterwards, simmer the puree by putting in herbs and other spices. Finally, toss it in with the linguine.
4.) Homemade Pastas - Nothing can compare to homemade ingredients, foods and meals. Believe it or not pasta is easy to make by hand. It is also quite healthy and nutritious when you add spinach, garlic, herbs and whole wheat flour. With these inclusions you've added vitamins, minerals and fiber content to your homemade pasta. Fiber oftentimes gets lost in our diets. It is an important component to hormonal balance, prevention of cancer and digestive health.
Whole Grain Pastas - Now we come to the pasta mentioned as the most diet friendly and healthiest of all. Many manufacturers of pasta have introduced nutritionally enhanced varieties including whole wheat, whole grain and pasta with omega-3 fatty acids and additional fiber. Thick and thin pastas can be used with a number of sauces to choose from. One is the no--cook sauce consisting of marinated tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and mozzarella cheese that's fresh and chopped. Mix with oil and toss into hot whole grain pasta.
Remember that "less is more" with pasta and its ingredients when creating healthy, low calorie pasta dishes. The best part about diet friendly pasta meals is they're economical too. Pasta is truly the best of both worlds in the kitchen and on the dinner table. It is easy to make and delicious to eat no matter what.
SOURCES:
Joy Harrison, "Is Pasta Healthy or Fattening?", Ezine Articles
Kelsey Kurth, "5 Diet Friendly Pastas You Can Eat Without the Guilt", Associated Content from Yahoo!
National Pasta Association - Pastahhh!, I Love Pasta.org
"Is Pasta Fattening?", Fasta Pasta Cooker
Published by Maxine Nelson
Maxine Nelson realized early on a true passion for writing. A memoir is in the works for publication in the near future. Currently she writes about her passions for all kinds of music, the performing arts,... View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentYummm...
Great article =0)
Good tips.
Thank you for sharing this!
Very nice article. I have completely switched over to whole grain pasta at home and even my husband prefers it. Nice work!
Great article, thanks so much.