A healthy pasta??

A healthy pasta??		uneeqme
		May 09 2008 13:02
I love pasta and I have come to the realization (and acceptance) that I will never be able to give it up. I am wondering if anyone knows of recipes for a healthier spaghetti. I don't mind cooking it myself (right now I buy the noodles and pre-made pasta sauces - alfredo being my favorite). I hear about people using whole wheat pasta noodles. I've not tried this but assume it would be healthier to consume but how does it taste? Anyone have an overall pasta recipe (noodles and sauce combined) that is healthy?? If so, can you list the servings per meal and how much a serving is please. Thanks in advance.......

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#1	davefiredancer19	May 09 2008 13:08
I dont personally care for WW pasta...i think it tastes bitter.. but I did just find this white pasta by Ronzoni..its called "smart pasta" and has like 5 fiber, 5 protein for a 2 ounce (dry) serving..and 180 cals which I think is less than usual SO makes pasta sauce from red wine, tomato pasta/sauce, and lots of spices/garlic/onion....yum! but sometimes we cheat and go Prego... You can also use ground turkey instead of beef or half and half for meatballs and the like... Generally alfredo is bad bad bad...sucks..i know.. Also, Hungry girl (google it) has some recipes if you can stand the shitake noodle
#2	jevw	May 09 2008 13:16
Whole wheat pasta is a little bit chewier if cooked by the directions. For my kids I leave in in for an extra minute or two and there are no complaints. The alfredo sauce is where the bulk of the calories are going to be (cream). Even the other bottled sauces are high in sugar and calories. I do not have a recipe, because it is something I just "throw" together. I take veggies (this varies by what I have available), sauted with a little olive oil, garlic. Add a can of diced tomatoes with the juice. Then a slowly about 1/2 cup a skim milk. And one tablespoon of 1/2 &1/2. I add a little more water and then put my noodles into the sauce to cook. I think that the half &half and cooking the noodles in the sauce gives it a fuller bodied taste. I forgot to mention that you can cook some chicken in with the veggies. Make it your own. You can use tomato sauce too.
#3	kristicro	May 09 2008 18:21
WHole wheat is great for you, but cook it longer than the box says. The texture is slightlty different, but with sauce it tastes fine.
#4	k-loo	May 09 2008 18:24
I LOVE WW PASTA!!! I just think it has this wonderful nutty flavor that really goes well with a nice meat sauce marinara! I use the barilla plus, and if you use the angel hair it really cooks nice and evenly.
#5	clairelaine	May 09 2008 21:51
I'm Italian and I don't like whole wheat pasta. I've found that the real secret to keeping it healthy is portion control. Another important factor is fat content. So skip the rich alfredo style sauces and stick to good marinara. It's very easy to make from scratch. Using only 1 tablespoon of good olive oil, saute chopped onions and minced garlic until soft but not brown. Add crushed tomatoes and simmer until thick. Add fresh herbs to taste.
#6	fuzzys	May 09 2008 23:04
Like other posters have said, it is less about the pasta itself than the sauces / cheeses that usually accompany it to make it unhealthy. I do use only ww pasta, though, and although it takes longer to cook and is a bit firmer, I cannot tell a difference, esp by the time you add whatever you are serving it with. Also have you ever tried spaghetti squash? It makes great spaghetti noodles but it's actually a vegetable, so has more nutrients than regular pasta and is very low cal. Just a thought! I still use pasta, but I use the squash occassionally when I want something different.
#7	lonestar45	May 09 2008 23:09
Have you tried Fiber Gourmet Pasta it is wonderful. Check out there web site. There's 20 grams of fiber and only 130 calories. www.fibergourmet.com
#8	smwhipple	May 10 2008 21:07
Whole wheat pasta is pretty good imo. Also fiber gourmet which really isn't much more expensive than regular pasta.
#9	shane32	May 10 2008 23:38
Original Post by fuzzys: Also have you ever tried spaghetti squash? It makes great spaghetti noodles but it's actually a vegetable, so has more nutrients than regular pasta and is very low cal. Just a thought! I still use pasta, but I use the squash occassionally when I want something different. +1 on the spaghetti squash!
#10	tina_4792	May 11 2008 13:17
I have tried whole wheat pasta before and found it easier to eat with a hearty, spicy sauce. The flavor was pretty strong and I didn't love it. I may try it again... But I have tried Barilla Plus pasta and like it very much - I have only made the angel hair and it's great. I still eat too much of it at once, so I don't make it often. (LOL) I've also heard that soy crumbles are a good alternative to meat in pasta sauces. Bon apetit!
#11	freckles2stars2	May 14 2008 18:14
I don't really like WW pasta. I prefer Spelt pasta but I also like Kamut. Here is a recipe using Spelt pasta. The calories need some tweeking though. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/pasta/spelt_mushroom .html Really good for you. More protein than WW. Here is recipe for the Kamut http://www.edenfoods.com/recipes/view.php?recipes_id=218 I really like the Kamut spirals for pasta salads and a ragu type sauce. Would be good in Mac and Cheese too. Hope this helps
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