Healthy Italian Food Toppers

Italian food is healthy, delicious and tempting. But it can also be quite unhealthy if you add lots of toppings that are loaded full of fat, calories and salt. Here, we will look at some alternative toppings that will not hurt your waist.

Healthy Italian food toppers: Light String Cheese by Sargento

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese tastes delicious on top of Spaghetti Bolognese, a classic lasagne or cannelloni. But when you consider how much cheese has already been added to a lot of Italian dishes, you will soon see the fat content skyrocket. Lasagne that contains 3 different types of cheeses really does not need a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top. But if you must add a little extra cheese, try Light String Cheese by Sargento. There are 50 calories in every serving, as well as 1.5g of saturated fat and 6g of protein. Rather than using a whole piece of string cheese per serving, divide it between two people and chop it up. Then place it on top of your meal.

Healthy Italian food toppers: Extra Tomato

Italian food just would not be Italian without a generous amount of tomatoes. Italian cooks work hard to perfect the taste of their Bolognese sauce. Recipes can vary considerably from region to region in Italy. The health benefits of tomatoes are legendary. They are rich in vitamin A and C as well as fibre and they are cholesterol free. An average sized tomato will contain just 35 calories. Tomatoes are also very refreshing. A sliced or finely chopped fresh tomato can be added to the top of Spaghetti Bolognese or other tomato based recipes for extra colour and flavour.

Healthy Italian food toppers: Fresh Basil

Basil is a staple herb used in Italian cookery and is used both fresh and dried. When using the dried variety, rub a small amount of basil between your fingers to release the aroma. Basil is a key feature in the beautiful Tricolor salad that comprises tomato, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves.

Healthy Italian food toppers: Sautéed Mushroom and Green Pepper

Mushroom and pepper taste great sautéed in a pan for a few minutes. But in order to avoid piling on the fat, add just a small splash of water to the pan when sautéing them. Mushrooms are naturally full of water and will quickly wilt down in their own juices, which is why oil is unnecessary. Add a little fresh garlic and you are then ready to serve. This can be added to any number of Italian recipes.

Italian food toppers do not need to be loaded full of fat, oil and salty ingredients. Remember to keep the ingredients fresh and simple and you will be able to truly appreciate your meal.