These Healthy, Easy, Low-Calorie Pasta Recipes Will Keep You Full (2024)

FAQs

What type of pasta is lowest in calories? ›

"Vegetable-based pastas, such as zucchini noodles or hearts of palm noodles, tend to be lowest in carbs and calories," says Sassos. "They are also packed with nutrient-dense vitamins and minerals and are naturally gluten-free.

The healthiest types of pasta include whole wheat pasta, as well as bean and vegetable based noodles.

What are some low-calorie options for pasta dishes? Mix the pasta 50/50 with a low calorie vegetable like summer squash, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans or spaghetti squash. You can also use spaghetti squash instead of pasta or use a lower calorie rice noodle. I always make my mac & chee with 1/2 cauliflower.

Try this today: You can easily give almost any pasta dish an easy upgrade by piling on the nutrient-dense ingredients, like veggies. I like making macaroni and cheese and mixing in chickpeas, broccoli, zucchini, and Brussels sprouts to make it a healthy, high fiber meal!

All types of pasta can be worked into a weight-loss diet, but some types may offer more of an advantage. While you may think of veggie noodles as being the best pasta for weight loss, edamame pasta is my top pick if you're trying to shed a few pounds.

For lower calorie and carbohydrate content, rice comes out top. But if protein and fibre is your aim, pasta wins over rice. That said, both can play a part in a healthy diet - and as the nutritional differences are quite small, it often comes down to which you would prefer.

What's the healthiest way to cook pasta? It is recommended to cook pasta al dente (slightly firm and chewy). As well as stopping the pasta from becoming overcooked and mushy, al dente pasta is healthier because it has a lower GI.

For those people with gut health issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a serving size over ½ cup of wheat-based pasta introduces fructans which can trigger tummy upsets. Gluten-free, buckwheat or quinoa pasta are likely to contain less fermentable short-chain carbohydrates (FODMAPs).

Eat pasta in small portions.

Half a cup of pasta should be the main course, with the rest consisting of toppings like sauce, lean meats, fish, vegetables, nuts, seafood, and olive oil.

Eating simple pasta without any veggies would mean loading up on carbs. Instead, add lots of sautéed veggies to your pasta, such as corn, broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, olives and jalapeños. This will also reduce your overall consumption of carbs-loaded pasta and increase your fiber intake.

Can you eat pasta every day? ›

It is possible to eat pasta daily and still be healthy. The key to eating pasta every day is to limit your portion size and supplement your pasta bowl with essential nutrients. The recommended portion size is two ounces of dry pasta or one cup of cooked pasta.

In addition to whole wheat pasta, pasta made from other ingredients such as chickpeas, lentils, and veggies are great options when you are on a diet. Non-traditional pasta like these are generally lower in carbohydrates and calories while having higher protein content.

Wait until the water comes to a rapid, aggressive boil before adding your pasta. Throwing in the pasta too early when the water isn't hot enough can result in some sticky, gummy noodles. Patience, friend. Stir right away — and every couple minutes.

Capellini is a much finer diameter cut than spaghetti. Capellini is a long rod shaped pasta and it is thinner than Spaghetti. The difference is the diameter of the noodles. Capellini (angel hair pasta) is fine, while spaghetti noodles are thicker.

Dietitians and other health care professionals should consider pasta as a low-glycemic carbohydrate option within the context of a healthy diet or a weight loss/weight maintenance diet.