Holy calories!

fjpatten

Just had spaghetti for the first time since I started my weight loss journey and began logging/weighung everything.

What my old self thought was (and routinely consumed) one serving was actually about 5 or 6. Good grief. No wonder I started piling on the pounds. One serving is so puny it wasn't even worth the 200 calories.

I think I'm done with pasta since I need my entire daily calorie allowance worth to feel like I even ate any. Back to zoodles I go!

nowine4me

Try zoodles, they are an awesome substitute.

msmith404040

I hear you! I got to where my portion sizes were pretty big - crazy! After a couple of months, I'm used to smaller portion sizes, thank goodness! I've never tried zoodles. I'll have to give that a go.

fjpatten

msmith404040 wrote: »

I hear you! I got to where my portion sizes were pretty big - crazy! After a couple of months, I'm used to smaller portion sizes, thank goodness! I've never tried zoodles. I'll have to give that a go.

I def reccommend trying zoodles. They are pretty good as a substitute and you can eat a lot without feeling guilty!

MsMaeFlowers

You can also do sweet potato noodles and butternut squash noodles. As well as the good ole favourite of spaghetti squash. They all taste great as a pasta replacement. I had butternut squash myself tonight, and had spaghetti squash last night.

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dani_1977

My favorite pasta substitute is spaghetti squash

Graelwyn75

I had pasta for the first time tonight in about 8 years, if not longer. Spaghetti with king prawns in a tomato and chilli based sauce. I just tend to not find it very filling but loved it as a kid. I much prefer potatoes.

Aerona85

The key to pasta is to mix in lots of veggies and protein with it...so the pasta is an accompaniment instead of the main show. That way you still get the taste and texture of pasta but without having to eat 900 cals worth. I like zoodles too but to me they just aren't pasta and don't meet that craving. 300 cals of pasta mixed with 2-3 cups veggies, 4 oz protein, and 1/2 to 3/4 cup sauce is quite a big bowlful for only 600ish cals. I often split that into two servings because I just can't eat it all.

Seffell

I eat a lot of pasta and I find it OK for the calories. Spaghetti meatballs with the sauce and lots of balls comes at 600-650cal. Pretty decent for dinner and very filling. For reference I eat at 1500cals (to maintain, at the moment I can't walk).
I had leek and bacon pasta bake last several dinners for the same cals. Very filling.

JillSpike

Broccoli slaw works well too as a sub!

Heather4448

I eat my spaghetti sauce over greens. I prefer it that way now!

CynthiasChoice

TeacupsAndToning wrote: »

Heather4448 wrote: »

I eat my spaghetti sauce over greens. I prefer it that way now!

That sounds terrible lol

I like greens with marinara too! And a bit of Italian sausage mixed in.

Has anyone ever mixed zoodles with linguini? I'm thinking you could do 1/3 linguini and 2/3 zoodles and get a filling pasta fix.

JRSINAZ

I've been cutting the starches out of my calorie count too

beaglady

Cauliflower works well to fill out a smaller portion of pasta with tomato sauce, especially when the pasta is bite size shapes like ziti.

Psychgrrl

I like carba-nada egg noodles. Higher protein and fiber, and I think they taste like the real thing. I’ve tried black bean and red lentil pasta, but the texture doesn’t work for me.

A couple cups of spinach and some tuna and I’ve got myself a pasta happy-meal!

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rickiimarieee

Same I've always been a huge carb lover. Pasta, bread, yum. But when I actually look and weigh what I'm eating now I'm like oh my gosh I think before I dieted I atleast consumed 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day with no exercise! I would eat pounds of York patties (candy) a day. Which is INSANE. Plus downing soda like crazy!

rickiimarieee

I want to clarify the candy situation just to put in perspective. I ate a whole bag of fun sized York patties everyday as just a snack. I would still eat lunch and dinner on top of that. But just that candy alone was 1,400 calories a day. I eat 1,200 my entire day!

jennifer_417

There were a lot of things that I pretty readily gave up once I started counting calories, because I didn't like them enough to make it worth the calories they contained.

fjpatten

rickiimarieee wrote: »

Same I've always been a huge carb lover. Pasta, bread, yum. But when I actually look and weigh what I'm eating now I'm like oh my gosh I think before I dieted I atleast consumed 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day with no exercise! I would eat pounds of York patties (candy) a day. Which is INSANE. Plus downing soda like crazy!

Lillymoo01

You can have a small serve of pasta mixed with zoodles. That way you have a more filling meal and still get a pasta hit without heaps of calories.

LAMCDylan

I don't even use noodles anymore. Whenever I want that spaghetti taste I cook up some meat, add sauce, then eat it with a slice of toast. I've noticed that whenever I am after that pasta or pizza taste it is really the sauce that I am craving most.

amusedmonkey

What main meal is 200 calories? Certainly not mine. I, too, would be upset if I had to settle for 200 calories of anything for a main meal. If I'm having pasta it's in the realm of 500-700 calories which is pretty reasonable and filling (to me). It is possible to bulk things up with vegetables. I mean, if you REALLy want pasta and you like it in large amounts you don't have to do all zoodles, it can mix the zoodles into real pasta.

fjpatten

amusedmonkey wrote: »

What main meal is 200 calories? Certainly not mine. I, too, would be upset if I had to settle for 200 calories of anything for a main meal. If I'm having pasta it's in the realm of 500-700 calories which is pretty reasonable and filling (to me). It is possible to bulk things up with vegetables. I mean, if you REALLy want pasta and you like it in large amounts you don't have to do all zoodles, it can mix the zoodles into real pasta.

Not the whole meal. Just the pasta without the bolognese sauce which is around 400 cals per serving if I use 90% lean ground beef.

Heather4448

@TeacupsAndToning
It’s actually really good! You should try it! The sauce is what delivers the flavor; noodles don’t add much. I usually put it over raw spinach.

fjpatten

jennifer_417 wrote: »

There were a lot of things that I pretty readily gave up once I started counting calories, because I didn't like them enough to make it worth the calories they contained.

That's exactly how I feel

amusedmonkey

fjpatten wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

What main meal is 200 calories? Certainly not mine. I, too, would be upset if I had to settle for 200 calories of anything for a main meal. If I'm having pasta it's in the realm of 500-700 calories which is pretty reasonable and filling (to me). It is possible to bulk things up with vegetables. I mean, if you REALLy want pasta and you like it in large amounts you don't have to do all zoodles, it can mix the zoodles into real pasta.

Not the whole meal. Just the pasta without the bolognese sauce which is around 400 cals per serving if I use 90% lean ground beef.

Oh, that makes sense. 200 calories of pasta is a reasonable portion for me but I can understand how it wouldn't be for others. If it's not worth the calories for you and you're happy without it you don't have to have it, but if you really want some you could do marinara and bulk it with veggies.

Noreenmarie1234

I never eat pasta and haven't for years because it's just not worth it and I don't even really like plain noodles its the sauce I like so I am with you on zoodles. My favorites are zucchini and carrot.

Dont try those tofu noodles the are terrible with pasta sauce by the way. Only good in stir fries and soups.

BodyByButter

LAMCDylan wrote: »

I don't even use noodles anymore. Whenever I want that spaghetti taste I cook up some meat, add sauce, then eat it with a slice of toast. I've noticed that whenever I am after that pasta or pizza taste it is really the sauce that I am craving most.

I do this too, but instead of toast I melt fresh mozzarella on top. I’m on a doctor prescribed low carb eating plan and this is great for that.

smh_cliff

I love pasta. I make 4 portions of Bolognese out of 500g mince beef for around 200 Cal's each and have 250-300 Cal's pasta.
Once upon a time my portions of both were double at least but I usually find this fine now. If I'm feeling really hungry I might have a salad starter first.