Bon Appetit! It’s National Spaghetti Day!

Spaghetti is one of the easiest things to prepare.  I don’t think you’ll find many people
who don’t love to twirl it with their fork and eat it up!  Some people might question
whether spaghetti can be part of a healthy eating plan.  It absolutely can!!

Today we celebrate National Spaghetti Day!  In honor of this special day, here are some
tips to get the most health benefits from your favorite noodle!

Board the Whole Grain Spaghetti Train- Choose whole grain, brown rice, or quinoa
spaghetti over the semolina pasta that you might normally purchase.  You can count
spaghetti towards one of the three servings of whole grains you should be eating each
day.  By choosing a whole grain variety of spaghetti, you will be getting fiber and B
vitamins not normally found in refined versions.

Be the Boss of your Sauce- Spaghetti is rarely seen by itself, and that’s a good thing
as long as you choose the right sauce.  If you choose a tomato based marinara or
pomodoro sauce, you will be getting a serving of vegetables with your spaghetti,
as well as the benefits of the antioxidant lycopene.  A garlic and olive oil sauce is
also good because garlic also has antioxidant properties, and olive oil is a healthy
monounsaturated fat.  Sauces like Alfredo and carbonara are loaded with saturated fat,
and do not offer health benefits so try to skip these if you can.

Mix and Match- To add bulk to your pasta make spaghetti squash or sauté shredded
cucumber and carrots and toss it in with your pasta.  These vegetables have the same
“string-like” consistency that spaghetti does, so you are adding more bulk and healthy
properties to your meal, without overdoing it on the pasta.

Spaghetti as a Sidekick- Instead of making spaghetti the star of your meal, make it a
side dish along with vegetables and a lean protein.  It’s easier to over-serve spaghetti if
it’s the main course you are preparing, but when prepared as a side, you’re more likely
to keep your portions in control, while still enjoying!

Now that you know how to make spaghetti healthy, use your noodle and utilize these
tips to make spaghetti a great addition to your eating plan!

Please share your favorite spaghetti dinner recipe with me!

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