Weight Loss Recipes

Can you imagine a life without spaghetti? Well, to be honest, I can't. They often saved my life when I only had half an hour to cook, and my family just loves them. But what to do when you are on a diet? Then dishes like that are out, aren't they?

No, they don't have to. What makes spaghetti a danger for your weight loss attempts is not the pasta itself, it's the high-fat ingredients we often serve with them, like the creamy sauce and the obligatory cheese on top. If you reduce fat as much as possible, use healthy fats like canola or olive oil instead and include plenty of vegetables in your spaghetti dinner, you don't have to feel bad about eating it.

Here are some low-fat spaghetti recipes that won't burden you with calories. Use 300 g normal or 200 g whole wheat spaghetti and boil it according to the instructions on the packet. All recipes serve 4.

Spaghetti With Pumpkin Sauce

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 kg butternut, sliced
• 750 ml vegetable stock
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper, salt, nutmeg
• optional: 50 g low-fat cheese, grated

Steps:

1. Heat the oil in a large pot. Fry onions and garlic until golden.
2. Add the butternut and briefly roast, then add the vegetable stock and bring to boil. Cover and allow simmering on moderate heat for about 15 minutes until the pumpkin is soft.
3. Blend with a stick blender until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt, cayenne pepper and a bit of nutmeg.
4. Pour over the spaghetti, sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Spaghetti With Tomato And Mushroom Sauce

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 cans of chopped peeled tomatoes (440 g each), with the liquid
• 750 g fresh mushrooms, sliced
• oregano, salt and freshly ground black pepper
• optional: 50 low-fat cheese, grated

Steps:

1. Heat the oil in a pan, add onions and garlic and fry until golden.
2. Add the mushrooms, reduce the heat and stir for about 5 minutes.
3. Then add the tomatoes and simmer over moderate heat for another 5 minutes until everything is hot.
4. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

These are just examples how to make spaghetti a great asset in your weight loss diet. Just remember: Keep your portion sizes reasonable. If you eat twice as much just because it's low-fat, you won't score anything. Make sure you don't eat more than you need. Enjoy your meal instead of wolfing it down.