Spaghetti is most definitely one of the most popular dishes, and it's a great option too if you are in a hurry. All you need is a sauce with it which you can do in the time the pasta is cooking. Unfortunately, many spaghetti recipes use ingredients like cream or cheese and are rather high in calories, like the famous Carbonara sauce. And they will most certainly not help you if you want to lose weight. But did you know that you can easily create very healthy spaghetti recipes that you can even enjoy when being on a diet? Here are four simple tricks how to lose weight with spaghetti:
- Upgrade carbohydrates
- Add low-calorie sauces and side dishes
- Reduce fat
- Watch your portion sizes
Tip #1: Upgrade carbohydrates
Swap your standard "white" spaghetti for a whole wheat version.
These contain more complex carbohydrates which are absorbed slower, giving you energy for longer. They also fill you quicker so that you are less likely to overeat at and in between mealtimes.Tip #2: Add low-calorie sauces and side dishes
If you add a salad or a vegetable side dish or sauce to your spaghetti, this will provide you with important vitamins and fiber. Most vegetables are great weight loss foods as they are low in calories, so you don't need to worry about the amount you eat, meaning you can enjoy a full plate of food without overloading your system with calories. Make sure to reduce the amount of pasta when adding a side dish or sauce.
Tip #3: Reduce fat
The most obvious step is to cut down on cheese, cream and other high-fat foods, but since many can't imagine pasta without cheese, you can use a small amount of low-fat cheese instead. Also reduce the amount of oil and butter you use, and prefer healthy versions like canola, olive or rapeseed oil and products made from these.
Tip #4: Watch your portion sizes
Our portions are often way bigger than we need, especially with foods we love. Try to gradually reduce your portion size to find out how much food you really need, and don't eat more than that, as tempting as it may be. If you feel your plate looks to empty, take a smaller one so that your portion looks bigger. Eating slowly also helps to prevent overeating, since it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to notice you ate enough. Enjoy your spaghetti rather than eating race-style.
If you follow these simple tips, spaghetti cannot only be part of your weight loss diet but even help you to achieve your goal and actually lose weight. If you use whole wheat spaghetti, lean mince, olive oil and low-fat cheese instead of the standard ingredients, spaghetti Bolognese for example can be a perfectly healthy dish that you don't need to feel bad about eating when dieting.
Weight Loss Recipes - 4 Secret and Powerful Tips How You Can Lose Weight With Spaghetti