http://www.realfoodfamilymeals.com/2013/01/easy-healthy-pasta- recipes.html April 24, 2013

Easy Healthy Pasta Recipes

Pasta dishes are quick and easy toprepare, making them the perfect choicewhen you want to whip up a quick meal. If youlike convenience as much as I do, you like theidea of preparing your whole meal in one potso there are less dishes to wash. But youhave to be a bit careful with a pasta dinnerbecause it can easily become laden withcalories and fats. Just keep these t ips inmind to help you prepare easy, healthy pastarecipes that are scrumptious and nutrit ious.

Choose the Right Pasta

If you want a healthy pasta dish, you haveto start with the basics, which is the pastaitself . Pasta is mainly carbohydrates andsmall amounts of protein and fat , but wholegrain pasta contains much more of the goodstuff . It contains healthy parts of the grainincluding f iber, which is good for the heart andthe digest ive system. Whole grain pasta isdigested more slowly, which helps to regulateblood sugar levels and makes you feel fulllonger, which helps prevent those snack attacks later.

Not a fan of whole wheat or whole-grain pasta? Try using half whole grain and half whiteuntil you get used to it , or try buying the white whole-grain variet ies that most stores carry. ("Ronzoni Smart Taste" is one brand available in my area.)

Check Port ion Sizes

You can have too much of a good thing, so always check port ion sizes. An ounce ofuncooked pasta has approximately 100 calories and measures about half a cup whencooked. A cup of cooked pasta has around 180 to 200 calories. Be sure to get the rightport ion size to maintain a healthy weight. It is very easy to get too much, especially whenyou compare your serving to those giant-sized servings you get in most pasta restaurants. Holy ravioli! (Trust me, they are overfeeding us:)

Add Vegetables

Vegetables add nutrit ion as well as volume to your pasta recipes. Make sure to includeonions, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, spinach, zucchini, broccoli, etc. Don'tforget my favorite - kale! Vegetables can be sauteed or steamed before tossing them inthe cooked pasta.

You will f ind some really easy and delicious pasta recipes in the Healthy ExpressCookbook: 101 Fresh, Light & Quick Dinners by Erin Rogers. This is an e-book that I highlyrecommend because the recipes really are light and healthy, yet they are simple enough for

anyone to make. Some of the pasta recipes include Rustic Ravioli Stew, Lemon Scallopswith Angel Hair and Angel Hair with Pesto and Grilled Chicken. Yummy, right? And theydon't use exotic ingredients either. For example, all you need to make the Rustic RavioliStew are garlic, onion, rosemary, beef broth, ravioli, spinach and tomatoes. Simple and real,just the way I like it .

Add Healthy Protein

Now that you have your carbohydrates (the pasta) and vegetables, it 's t ime to put insome healthy protein for a deliciously healthy pasta recipe. Grilled boneless, skinlesschicken breast turns a simple pasta dish into a scrumptious main course. You can alsosaute or steam some shrimp to top off your pasta dish.

The Secret is in the Sauce

Sauce matters when it comes to pasta. A healthy whole-grain pasta can turn into anutrit ional nightmare if it becomes laden with fats and calories. You may want to stay awayfrom pasta recipes that are heavy on cream. One of the healthiest recipes for pasta sauceis a simple marinara or tomato sauce. Simply simmer tomatoes with fresh basil andoregano. A lit t le olive oil, f inely chopped garlic and fresh basil also make a simple yetdelicious pasta dish.

Pasta Salad Recipes

A pasta salad can be a side dish or a meal in itself . Cooked whole wheat pasta shells,spirals, bow t ies, or macaroni make the perfect base for a healthy pasta salad recipe. Pasta salads also offer a way make use of that lef tover chicken, tuna, vegetables, etc. Add low fat mayo, sour cream or yogurt , and some capers, smoked salmon and choppedhard boiled egg for a gourmet recipe. See my Tomato Kale Pasta Salad recipe, too!

Need more ideas for simple, light dinner ideas? Try the Healthy Express Cookbook: 101Fresh, Light & Quick Dinners by Erin Rogers. It is chock full of really easy and healthyrecipes. Click here for more.

Need ideas for feeding your family healthy meals? Come on over towww.realfoodfamilymeals.com and meet Connie - mom, food blogger,librarian. You'll find some great recipes and tips to help your familyeat less junk and more food. To your health!