5 Delicious Pasta Alternatives with a Fraction of the Calories
It's that transition time of year when many of my clients ask for advice on switching up their staple meals. Warmer weather means we're no longer bundling up, and bathing suit season is approaching, so ditching hearty starches like pasta just makes sense. But salads aren't your only option. There are tons of veggies to choose from, and five in particular make perfect pasta stand-ins. Here's how to use vegetables to create easy main-dish meals that will leave you feeling lightened up and fully satisfied. Health.com 11 Fresh Fruit and Veggie Recipes for Spring, Julienned zucchini, Kitchen gadgets that create spiral or noodle-shaped cuts of everything from carrots to cucumbers are all the rage right now. You can pick up a spiralizer or a mandolin slicer at a kitchen store for about 40, or imitate the effect by using a julienne peeler if you don't already have one in the drawer, they're about 10. In addition to providing 35 of your daily vitamin C needs per cup, raw zucchini makes a great base for a chilled "pasta salad." Add additional veggies, like quartered grape tomatoes and minced red onion, along with a lean protein like beans, lentils, chicken, or salmon, then toss with balsamic vinaigrette and refrigerate. A perfect make-ahead lunch option!, Health.com26 Quick and Tasty Zucchini Recipes, Spaghetti squash, You won't need any fancy tools to create the angel hair-like strands found inside this cooked squash, a source of blood-pressure regulating, bloat-busting potassium. If you haven't tried spaghetti squash yet, I predict love at first bite, and I promise it's easy. Just slice lengthwise, remove the seeds, place cut side down on a foil-lined oven tray, and roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Once squash is cooled enough to handle, rake the flesh with a fork to release the "spaghetti." Toss with marinara and top with lean protein, or use as the base for a casserole. Shredded cabbage, As a member of the cruciferous veggie family which also includes kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, cabbage is a known cancer fighter and potent heart protector. Most people associate it with slaw, but steamed cabbage is also a terrific pasta substitute. Cover a cup with stewed tomato sauce seasoned with harissa, slather with pesto, or toss with a combo of mushrooms, tomatoes, and onions, sauted in extra olive oil with garlic and basil. Health.com 23 Easy Cabbage Recipes, French beans, French beanswhich are more petite than common green beans with a softer podare rich in fiber, B vitamins, and immune-supporting vitamins A and C. Steam a large handful and toss with sun-dried tomato or roasted red pepper pesto, and then use them as a bed for lentils or cooked shrimp this combo is also great chilled, or slice them lengthwise to form skinnier strands and cover with a ladle of thick tomato sauce. Health.com Best and Worst Foods to Avoid Bloating, Ribboned eggplant, Natural substances in eggplant are known to fight aging, protect the brain, and trigger blood vessels to relax, which improves blood flow and boosts circulation. To take advantage of their benefits, grab a vegetable peeler and go to town, slicing the entire eggplant into thin "ribbons." Lightly mist or brush the ribbons with olive oil and roast on a baking sheet. Serve them hot or chilled as a pasta replacement or top slices with goodies like hummus, roll up and enjoy!, This article originally appeared on Health.com.