Spaghetti made healthy!

This evening I began to cook dinner and realized that perhaps I should be sharing some tips on how to prepare meals that are not considered “diet food”. One of the most universally adored foods is spaghetti! The problem is that it's filled with unwanted calories and fat. There is always a healthier version of your favorite foods out there if you make a few substitutions. You must read labels! Label reading makes for a longer grocery trip in the beginning; however once you’re done, you know what you are looking for in the future!

Listed below are a few quick substitution tips for spaghetti:

• Use ground turkey burger in place of ground hamburger. Jennie - O ground turkey is a great example!

• Replace your pasta sauce with a lower calorie traditional sauce and add fresh vegetables. Prego traditional sauce is a great option!

• Spray your pan with non-stick cooking spray. Go for olive oil, it's filled with healthy fats your body needs!

• Never buy regular pasta! Whole grain pasta is filled with fiber and some even have added Omega 3! There are many options out there, but you have to be careful. I know without a doubt that Healthy Harvest brand is a good option and they have a wide variety.

• Look for a wedge of Parmesan cheese and grate the amount you need for topping. You tend to use more when it's readily available in the “shaky cheese” containers! 

Have fun with it!  Chop vegetables up real fine and the kids will never know they are even there!  If you really want to try something new, use spaghetti squash instead of noodles!  Just bake it off and pull the inside of the squash out with a fork.  The strands look just like pasta noodles!  There are a million things you can do differently and no reason that you should have to go without your favorite meals!