On a Diet? You Can Still Enjoy Pasta! Tips from Shape Magazine
If you can’t imagine a life without pasta but are concerned about your weight, don’t worry! This week in Shape Magazine, Rebecca Scritchfield, R.D.N and founder of Capitol Nutrition Group shared tips for pasta-lovers on a diet. Scritchfield’s tips will help you keep your waistline in check, while still enjoying the food that you love. Check out what she had to say below:
- Don’t Deprive Yourself
“If you eliminate a food you love, you will only want it more. When you finally eat it, “it’s like getting out of jail. You can’t help but overdo it because you’re finally free to eat it again,” says Scritchfield. Pasta is a fat-free, low sodium food and 1 cup of cooked pasta contains just 100 calories. You don’t need to feel guilty about eating pasta, as it is a healthy foundation for a balanced diet. So if you love pasta as much as we do, don’t feel the need to eliminate it from your diet!
- Focus on Flavor
Scritchfield states, “You’re less likely to overeat when each bite is super satisfying.” One way to do this is to combine your pasta with pantry staples that are already in your home. Revamp your everyday pasta dish by tossing it with frozen vegetables, nuts, cannellini beans, and some fresh herbs. Or, if you’re looking to try a new sauce with your pasta, try making something as easy and delicious as pesto! Our Vegan and Nut-free Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto combines unique flavors for an one of a kind yummy sauce.
- Bulk Up on Veggies
Vegetables provide countless health benefits, and people who eat more vegetables and fruits are less at risk for some chronic diseases. Scritchfield suggests adding a fist-size portion of sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes and olives to your pasta dish. When vegetables are put into sauce, they cook down so much that you’ll hardly know they’re there! This is also a great way to sneak in veggies for kids and picky eaters.
To read the full article with more helpful tips on Shape Magazine’s website, click here. If you have any other questions about the health benefits of pasta, check out our Nutrition Page.
