Smarter Spaghetti
Servings: 2-3
Prep/Cook Time: 25 minutes
My daughter’s 8th birthday is coming up and I asked her what she wanted for dinner. She smiled and said, “I want your spaghetti, mom. Not the kind out of a jar, yours.” You can imagine the pure joy in my smile back at her when she chose something made by me. I have said before that some of my proudest moments are when I see my kids choosing healthier, smarter foods. This isn’t something children would do on their own so I know it comes from me being able to bring them up eating smart. This is a reminder to us all, that even though it’s you who is making this change by choosing HCG 2.0, it’s not just you that reaps the benefits. Our families and most importantly our children are now getting that same opportunity to learn how to pick foods that are healthier for them. So, once again, from our sacrifice comes their gain. Even if you don’t have kids, believe me, there is someone in your life that you will positively influence by making this smarter way of eating a priority in your life.
Here is a spaghetti that is fairly simple and uses a combination of both fresh ingredients and some dried herbs as well. I try to use both because I want these recipes to be doable for you and I also want you to be comfortable making substitution like dried herbs or canned tomatoes instead of fresh if you need to. Don’t look at a recipe and think that you won’t be able to make it just because you are missing a couple ingredients. Nine times out of ten, there is something else in the house you can use. We already do this in our diet when we make healthier substitutes for carbs like using lettuce as the bread for a sandwich or zucchini for noodles in spaghetti. Here we are going to use what are commonly known as Miracle Noodles or Shirataki, Zero-Calorie Noodles. You can also use the Pasta Zero noodles found in the produce section at most grocery stores.
What are Shirataki Noodles?
Shirataki Noodles resemble spaghetti in that they are long and white. Instead of being made from flour, they are made from a type of fiber called glucomannan which comes from the root of the konjac plant that grows in Southeast Asia. These noodles only have a couple other ingredients with the main one being water. The ratio of water to fiber is 97% water to 3% glucomannan. They are extremely low in calories and contain no digestible carbs.
Glucomannan is a type of soluble fiber that can absorb up to 50 times it’s weight in water which is reflected in the shirataki noodles high water content making it essentially a zero calorie and carb free food. We love this, especially that it is in noodle form! Another thing we love about these noodles is that they move through your digestive system very slowly, which helps you feel full longer and delays nutrient absorption into your bloodstream. So, unlike regular pasta that turns to sugar quickly in your bloodstream and then makes you feel groggy and tired after eating it, this noodle delays that and provides you with energy that is felt over a longer period of time. Because of this effect, glucomannan has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and insulin resistance. Basically, it delays stomach emptying and prevents blood sugar spikes after meals.
Now I wouldn’t advise thinking you have found your all-time alternative to pasta and start eating these in great abundance either. Though they have been found to be be safe at all amounts it is still a type of fiber, so introduce it into your diet gradually. They may cause too many digestive issues for some, so go easy at first.
These noodles along with this light sauce make this spaghetti everything you need to feel that comfort of an age old recipe. We all deserve that feeling you get from one of your mom’s favorite recipes even if we are dieting (and it’s not your birthday). You really don’t need a lot of ingredients to make good food, just smart ones.
Ingredients:
7 oz ground beef, 93% lean
Miracle Noodles, 6-7 oz bag or Pasta Zero 6 oz bag
1 clove garlic, minced
2 TBS onion, finely chopped
1 cup fresh tomatoes, diced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions:
Brown the ground beef over medium high heat adding onion, garlic, and tomatoes while cooking
Stir in Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper
Prepare noodles as instructed on package, then add to sauce along with mushrooms
Simmer over medium heat until heated through