Quitting Pasta

GormanGhaste

I like eating couscous, as it's easy to measure portions.

That's a great idea with the shredded broccoli. I'll have to try it!

formersec

I'm diabetic and still eat pasta, but maybe once a week and in reasonable amounts. My Italian mother's family ate pasta either as an appetizer or a side dish -- certainly no more than a cupful. None of them were diabetic or overweight. Eating enough pasta to fill a huge dinner plate is actually an American concept. That's the problem with us Americans -- we overeat everything.

shannashannabobana

Its not essential to quit it , but I don't eat it any more, there are many other foods available!

This one. I am limiting wheat, but even before that I realized that pasta doesn't really help me lose weight. Best to enjoy it as a treat, not an everday thing.

that weird fatty cheese salsa

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Joehenny

wholewheat rather than white pasta but why eat it anyway its full of carb and tastes crap

"but why eat it anyway its full of carb" Your statement makes no sense. By that logic: "Chicken is full of protein anyways don't eat it"

fooninie

IMO you don't need to quit anything. Just make sure you are burning more calories than you are eating (Caloric deficit). Personally, I stay away from most refined carbs (pastas, bread etc.) because they bloat me. But I do have whatever I want in moderation.

I lost all of my weight following the low carb lifestyle. When I learned that pasta and bread basically turn into glycogen, I was convinced to reduce my intake. Most of us have enough glycogen stored already. In Italy (and many European countries) they have a very different approach to eating, just saying that Italians eat lots and they are less obese is not just about the pasta, it;s about the portions, the balance of fresh foods being used for sauces or salads and the time they spend eating and their overall mobility. Culturally, there is a huge difference. I'm French, my problem was I just was overindulging on all food groups (and wine) and not burning.

Emma_altpeter

I don't eat pasta ever. I find people crave the sauce far more than the actual noodles. I love love love pasta sauce and eat it as salad dressing or on top of cabbage- yum!

But pasta isn't terrible for you, its the portions people tend to eat 4 times the appropriate portion of pasta, then with the sauce, and added cheese or what have you it can all add up to 1200+ calories for one dish, which is more than I would eat in an entire day!

So my verdict- eat pasta as a lunch rather than dinner and never get pasta at a restaurant.

cwolfman13

Is quitting pasta a good idea?

do you have a gluten allergy? Are you diabetic or pre diabetic or otherwise insulin resistant? If no, there is no need to give up pasta. Particular foods and particular macro nutrients (carbs/fat/protein) don't make you fat...calories in excess of your maintenance level of calories makes you fat.

Carbs aren't the devil...actually, carbs are awesome if you actually workout and stuff. I'd bonk without carbs...and those slow carbs from pasta, potatoes, grains, etc are my favorite...awesome for running and recovery from lifting.

Ohnoes

my opinion... whole wheat pasta is not tasty. neither is brown rice, etc etc. they taste un-yummy. i dont care if they are healthier, i would rather never eat pasta again than eat these. i have tried, and im done trying fake pastas.

i have two skinny skinny hungry growing boys to feed, and not a lot of money so we have pasta at least once a week for dinner. i make a nice red sauce with lean ground meat, some hidden veggies for bulk and vitamins (shredded zucchini and carrots, yum!). i fill my own bowl with salad that i keep in the fridge at all times (lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, bell peppers) and then i top it with a measured cup of pasta (about 220 calories) and a cup of sauce, which acts as a salad dressing. the veggies are filling and i have enough pasta to feel like i am eating what the kids are having. this is what works for me!

also, we sometimes have pasta as a side dish for another meal. a chicken breast with a salad and a cup of pasta on the side is good stuff. pasta does not have to be consumed in huge amounts, or as the main course of a meal.

MB_Positif

I haven't quit pasta. I eat a lot less of it, meaning less often and less quantity when I do. That said, I try to make the meal more about the sauce or whatever I am putting on the pasta, the pasta is the side dish, not the main dish. I add lots of protein and vegetables.

svarcy

Wholewheat vs White pasta comes down to their position on the Glycemic Index (GI) some people care about this some don't. I wouldn't really recommend worrying about it if you're just starting out as it is micromanaging but would recommend you look into it at some point.

Wholewheat (brown) has around 25% lower GI than white pasta which means it will deliver 25% less sugar to the bloodstream within 2 hours after eaten. Higher blood sugar levels make the body produce more insulin which in turn stores more sugar in the cells. Insulin can also slow fat burning, increase fat storage and make you feel hungry sooner. The GI difference in the two is because the wholewheat version is higher in fibre which is what will keep you fuller longer.

You still need to control your portion sizes as you would with white but I would recommend wholewheat over white because of the above. Plus IMO just like brown rice I can't taste the difference like some people and enjoy it a lot more.

determinedbutlazy

I eat pasta about once a week. It's cheap and fast and filling and I can always add chicken or a couple of eggs for protein. Hasn't hurt me.

Mother_Superior

I eat pasta about once a week. It's cheap and fast and filling and I can always add chicken or a couple of eggs for protein. Hasn't hurt me.

About the same here. If you want it, eat it. You can fix it in a lot of different ways, and it's handy for filling out your macro needs.

GormanGhaste

I find people crave the sauce far more than the actual noodles. I love love love pasta sauce and eat it as salad dressing or on top of cabbage- yum!

I love pasta sauce with cooked spinach! Of course, I also love it with potato gnocchi

Athijade

Pasta is NOT evil! I wish people would stop vilifying carbs or other foods for no good reason.

Watch your portions and if it fits your macros and calories, then enjoy. There is no reason to give it up if you do not want to. The issue is that most people eat a giant plate of pasta that is most likely 3-4 servings. Use it on the side and load up on vegetables and protein with it.

Note: This is all as long as you don't have a gluten intolerance, celiacs, or other medical reason to restrict consumption.

corgicake

The moment you "quit" pasta you will want it by the box. Off diet, I rarely eat starchy things out of sheer laziness. On diet when I'm having to trim carbs because that's where the excess is at, I want my daily serving of pasta. It's all psychological.