Secrets of Success

Pump Up Your Health: Eat Spaghetti

I'm not a huge fan of spaghetti, but my family loves it. It just so happens that the sauce (and pizza sauce) are the ONLY way I get any tomatoes into my diet, therefore, I do try to make it every other week. It's imperative to use whole grain noodles (if you cannot hack it for whatever reason, go half and half). Using fresh sauce without sugar and whole wheat makes spaghetti a very healthy AND filling meal choice.

Do you love spaghetti (or any pasta)? If so, you have to try this!

If you're like me and you love spaghetti (ANY pasta), and want to enjoy it without sacrificing your healthy eating, whenever possible use spaghetti squash, instead of pasta. If you have never tried it, give it a try! If time allows, I will also make my own sauce to eliminate all the added sugar and/or salt in jarred sauces. Or even just toss the strands of spaghetti squash with a little olive oil then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Cut Your Pasta servings in HALF with NO ONE missing the extra calories!

Make your sauce CHUNKY with LOTS of veggies( tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, spinach, squash etc) It should be like a stew..Don't let it get "runny" . Boil 1oz whole grain pasta per person and when done- use kitchen shears to snip into small pieces. Mix into sauce and divide into servings. The veggies make up for the lower amount of pasta. And because it isn't a mound under the sauce- no one can gage how much( or little) pasta they actually have.!

Spaghetti Serving

I never understood how you can get a precise spaghetti serving amount from the sizes given (2 oz, 1/8 of a box, 1/2 cup) - it made no sense to me! **If you love spaghetti, remember that a single serving is 32 full strands of spaghetti.**

Cook spaghetti in the microwave - quick & easy (click to view all the steps)

Looking for a fast and easy way to cook spaghetti or pasta with little clean up? Now you can use your microwave.
- Add spaghetti to a large plastic container. Break in half if needed.
- Fill box with water so that all of the spaghetti is under water. Add salt or any spices you like, then...

Spaghetti Sauce - Reducing Acid

To remove the acid from spaghetti sauce, simmer on the stove and put a big carrot in there. It will soak up the acid perfectly! (My mom taught me this when she made her sauce from scratch, but it works for pre-made sauces, too.)

How to Eat Healthy and Lose Weight With... Spaghetti?

OK, not truly "spaghetti". But shiritake tofu noodles have a look, texture and taste that are fairly close to pasta noodles -- delicious! And a 4-oz serving is only 20 calories.