Love pasta but want to make it more nutritious? Make healthy pasta by lightening up linguine, spaghetti, penne and more with these smart strategies.
1. Go the whole (wheat) way.
Unless you’re avoiding gluten, whole-wheat pasta is your best bet. “Whole-wheat pasta provides more healthy carbs, fiber, vitamins and minerals than standard pasta,” says Laura Hartung, R.D., a Boston-based nutrition and fitness consultant. If you’re avoiding gluten, consider pasta varieties made with brown rice or spelt. Quinoa pasta is another smart option because it is high in protein. Be sure to read the package, though, as a cup of cooked quinoa pasta can contain 15 percent more calories than a cup of cooked whole-wheat pasta.
2. Say goodbye to soggy noodles.
Research shows that when pasta is cooked longer than necessary, its carbs break down faster during digestion, which can make your blood sugar spike and then crash. To prevent this, taste a noodle after boiling for about eight minutes. It should be firm, not chalky or mushy.
3. Kick up the protein.
“Pasta doesn’t deserve to be vilified,” says Tami Lyon, R.D., founder of Healthy Living Nutritional Counseling and Consulting in San Francisco. “But making it into a complete meal by adding protein is vital.” This will keep you fuller longer because it slows the absorption of carbs into your system. Combine 15 to 20 grams of lean protein, such as 3 ounces of cooked wild salmon or turkey sausage, with 1 to 1 1/2 cups of cooked pasta.
4. Make your own sauce.
Store-bought marinaras are time-savers, but they can be laden with sodium, sugar, oils and preservatives. Luckily, making a batch from scratch takes only 10 minutes. This marinara gets its sweetness from grated carrot, which also delivers some fiber.
10-minute marinara:
Finely grate 1/2 carrot and 1/2 celery stalk. Pour one 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes with basil into a bowl and use your hands to coarsely crush the tomatoes. In a saucepan, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat. Add 4 lightly smashed garlic cloves and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add grated carrot and celery and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes.
5. Add roasted vegetables.
While you’re waiting for pasta water to boil, lightly toss vegetables like fennel, asparagus or mushrooms with olive oil and salt. Roast at 425 F until tender and caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes, then mix into cooked pasta with some reserved cooking water and grated cheese. You can also add ribbons of other vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips or asparagus — or slivers of dark leafy greens including Swiss chard, collard greens or kale.
6. Cheat your way to creamy.
An order of fettuccine Alfredo at a restaurant can weigh in at around 2,000 calories. For a velvety sauce without cream or loads of cheese, mix a couple spoonfuls of ricotta or plain yogurt with hot pasta.
7. Go green.
Sneak more leafy greens into your diet by adding them to pasta. Follow this formula: In a large skillet, wilt the chopped leaves of 1 large or 2 small bunches of greens with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1 chopped garlic clove; toss with cooked pasta.
(Fitness is fuel for women who are serious about being healthy and staying strong. Online at www.fitnessmagazine.com.)
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