Looking for Alternatives!?

HarveysBud

Looking for advice on what people use - lower calorie options - for both pasta and bread (hamburger buns, wraps, etc.)

Thanks in advance.

kommodevaran

I don't use alternatives, I adjust portions for everything to hit my total calorie goal.

LivingtheLeanDream

I don't use alternatives either like @kommodevaran I just eat smaller portions or make sure they fit into my calorie allowance.

sardelsa

Either smaller portions.. or lettuce wraps, low cal wraps, zucchini noodles, shirataki noodles

cwolfman13

We do zoodles sometimes...I don't really think it substitutes for pasta, but it's a lower calorie option to eat with my bolognese sauce.

For hamburger buns, we use these sprouted wheat buns which are slightly lower calorie than regular wheat buns, but it's pretty negligible...mostly we like the texture. When my wife is cutting weight, she typically eats her burger without the bun or in a lettuce wrap...I just eat it on a bun.

HarveysBud

cwolfman13 wrote: »

We do zoodles sometimes...I don't really think it substitutes for pasta, but it's a lower calorie option to eat with my bolognese sauce.

For hamburger buns, we use these sprouted wheat buns which are slightly lower calorie than regular wheat buns, but it's pretty negligible...mostly we like the texture. When my wife is cutting weight, she typically eats her burger without the bun or in a lettuce wrap...I just eat it on a bun.

Zoodles? Going on a limb, what @sardelsa mentioned = Zucchini noodles? Thanks for the comments.

holytricoli

I like to use whole wheat sandwich thins for burgers and sandwiches. About half the calories of two slices of bread.
I also eat whole wheat pasta (although pasta is pretty rare for me), and make sure I'm being smart about portion control. Same calories, but more filling, in my opinion.
Sometimes I use whole wheat tortillas but typically when I make tacos or similar dishes, instead of filling a tortilla (or two!), I put everything on a bed of lettuce or spinach and have it that way instead.

Hope this is helpful!

sardelsa

HarveysBud wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

We do zoodles sometimes...I don't really think it substitutes for pasta, but it's a lower calorie option to eat with my bolognese sauce.

For hamburger buns, we use these sprouted wheat buns which are slightly lower calorie than regular wheat buns, but it's pretty negligible...mostly we like the texture. When my wife is cutting weight, she typically eats her burger without the bun or in a lettuce wrap...I just eat it on a bun.

Zoodles? Going on a limb, what @sardelsa mentioned = Zucchini noodles? Thanks for the comments.

Yup zoodles are zucchini noodles. You can use them instead of pasta or use them to bulk up a smaller portion of pasta, helps add some volume and extra nutrients.

HarveysBud

holytricoli wrote: »

I like to use whole wheat sandwich thins for burgers and sandwiches. About half the calories of two slices of bread.
I also eat whole wheat pasta (although pasta is pretty rare for me), and make sure I'm being smart about portion control. Same calories, but more filling, in my opinion.
Sometimes I use whole wheat tortillas but typically when I make tacos or similar dishes, instead of filling a tortilla (or two!), I put everything on a bed of lettuce or spinach and have it that way instead.

Hope this is helpful!

Absolutely is @holytricoli , thank you. Just head lettuce to make wraps?

HarveysBud

sardelsa wrote: »

HarveysBud wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

We do zoodles sometimes...I don't really think it substitutes for pasta, but it's a lower calorie option to eat with my bolognese sauce.

For hamburger buns, we use these sprouted wheat buns which are slightly lower calorie than regular wheat buns, but it's pretty negligible...mostly we like the texture. When my wife is cutting weight, she typically eats her burger without the bun or in a lettuce wrap...I just eat it on a bun.

Zoodles? Going on a limb, what @sardelsa mentioned = Zucchini noodles? Thanks for the comments.

Yup zoodles are zucchini noodles. You can use them instead of pasta or use them to bulk up a smaller portion of pasta, helps add some volume and extra nutrients.

Thank you kindly. Going to check them out. Meatballs are my fav, so hoping this pairs well. Super skeptical mind you. But will give them a chance for sure! Ty again.

try2again

In my area, I can get 150 calorie pasta (it has a higher fiber content, but tastes no different). There is a local store brand (Hy-Vee) and Creamette, and Ronzoni also make versions, but I hear from friends that it's hard to find. My question is, if they *can* make something with less calories and no difference in taste, why not just make it *all* that way?
Sara Lee makes 45 calorie bread, but the flavor is eh and it doesn't keep well. Occasionally I find low-carb wraps in the neighborhood of 50-60 calories. For the most part, if I want a sandwich I just have my regular 60-70 calorie bread and use a bakery bun for burgers & things. Unless you have a very low calorie allowance (and that should be rare), it fits in OK.

sardelsa

HarveysBud wrote: »

sardelsa wrote: »

HarveysBud wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

We do zoodles sometimes...I don't really think it substitutes for pasta, but it's a lower calorie option to eat with my bolognese sauce.

For hamburger buns, we use these sprouted wheat buns which are slightly lower calorie than regular wheat buns, but it's pretty negligible...mostly we like the texture. When my wife is cutting weight, she typically eats her burger without the bun or in a lettuce wrap...I just eat it on a bun.

Zoodles? Going on a limb, what @sardelsa mentioned = Zucchini noodles? Thanks for the comments.

Yup zoodles are zucchini noodles. You can use them instead of pasta or use them to bulk up a smaller portion of pasta, helps add some volume and extra nutrients.

Thank you kindly. Going to check them out. Meatballs are my fav, so hoping this pairs well. Super skeptical mind you. But will give them a chance for sure! Ty again.

No problem! I mean, they aren't pasta.. but they are yummy and do go well with sauce and meat. If you aren't a fan, you can always bulk up your pasta with more veggies to save on calories

HarveysBud

try2again wrote: »

In my area, I can get 150 calorie pasta (it has a higher fiber content, but tastes no different). There is a local store brand (Hy-Vee) and Creamette, and Ronzoni also make versions, but I hear from friends that it's hard to find. My question is, if they *can* make something with less calories and no difference in taste, why not just make it *all* that way?
Sara Lee makes 45 calorie bread, but the flavor is eh and it doesn't keep well. Occasionally I find low-carb wraps in the neighborhood of 50-60 calories. For the most part, if I want a sandwich I just have my regular 60-70 calorie bread and use a bakery bun for burgers & things. Unless you have a very low calorie allowance (and that should be rare), it fits in OK.

Thanks so much for the comment and options @try2again . Appreciated!

cwolfman13

HarveysBud wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

We do zoodles sometimes...I don't really think it substitutes for pasta, but it's a lower calorie option to eat with my bolognese sauce.

For hamburger buns, we use these sprouted wheat buns which are slightly lower calorie than regular wheat buns, but it's pretty negligible...mostly we like the texture. When my wife is cutting weight, she typically eats her burger without the bun or in a lettuce wrap...I just eat it on a bun.

Zoodles? Going on a limb, what @sardelsa mentioned = Zucchini noodles? Thanks for the comments.

Yup...

I'm mostly about the sauce and not so much the pasta and would rather spend more calories on glorious sauce and just need a delivery method, so we do zoodles quite often.

HarveysBud

cwolfman13 wrote: »

HarveysBud wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

We do zoodles sometimes...I don't really think it substitutes for pasta, but it's a lower calorie option to eat with my bolognese sauce.

For hamburger buns, we use these sprouted wheat buns which are slightly lower calorie than regular wheat buns, but it's pretty negligible...mostly we like the texture. When my wife is cutting weight, she typically eats her burger without the bun or in a lettuce wrap...I just eat it on a bun.

Zoodles? Going on a limb, what @sardelsa mentioned = Zucchini noodles? Thanks for the comments.

Yup...

I'm mostly about the sauce and not so much the pasta and would rather spend more calories on glorious sauce and just need a delivery method, so we do zoodles quite often.

Ha! Exactly!! I am with you on that one. Thanks Wolf Man!

VeggieGirlforLife

I'm gluten free, so I use alternatives all the time. I agree with the posts about zoodles, I use them a lot. They're super low calorie, too. Spaghetti squash is another great substitute for pasta and I really like the flavor. Romaine hearts and butter lettuce are fantastic for wraps. You could also try portobella mushroom caps instead of a bread bun.

HarveysBud

VeggieGirlforLife wrote: »

I'm gluten free, so I use alternatives all the time. I agree with the posts about zoodles, I use them a lot. They're super low calorie, too. Spaghetti squash is another great substitute for pasta and I really like the flavor. Romaine hearts and butter lettuce are fantastic for wraps. You could also try portobella mushroom caps instead of a bread bun.

Thanks so much for all of this @VeggieGirlforLife !

dsboohead

Yes I do use light bread...english muffins and wraps. Its the visual of more for my calorie dollar. It works 4 me

dsboohead

I also like the high fiber content of these items...stays with me longer.

laur357

I don't often substitute, but I do like Barilla's protein plus pasta. It has a higher protein and fiber content that regular pasta and the taste is very similar. The macros make a reasonable 2 oz. serving very satiating so I don't want seconds.
I'm also a fan of bulking up food with vegetables. If I make mashed potatoes, I will sometimes add cabbage or kale. White rice might get tossed with riced broccoli. Add cauliflower to potato soup. That sorta thing.

concordancia

All veggies.

I recently was offered mixed greens salad instead of noodles for a Korean dish. It was fabulous. Also works well with taco toppings, and most sandwich fixings.

Spaghetti squash makes a great substitute for noodles in many Asian dishes, as does shredded cabbage.

Broccoli is another good one as a base for suaced up meats.

Cauliflower makes an excellent rice substitute, for me it is usually dirty rice or Spanish rice (that is the midwestern casserole by that name). Still trying to convince hubby about trying cauliflower Jambalaya.

DX2JX2

Wraps aren't really super low cal...better just to think of them as a straight trade off vs. normal bread.

One benefit that wraps do bring is that they're easy to trim so you can use a bare minimum of wrap to contain a certain amount of filling. I easily save 25%-30% of calories from wraps by trimming off two sides square before wrapping up whatever I'm putting inside. This translates to not having any 'unfilled' wrap at the top of your sandwich and not having any 'doubling up' of wrap at the bottom (if using a burrito-like fold). You won't really miss it.

michellebirtleeds

I'll often do an open face sandwich so it uses 1 slice of bread rather than two; this helps me enjoy my sandwich while keeping the total calorie count lower.

dsboohead

I also use the Smart Taste pasta...it has high fiber and is white. Please no brown whole wheat pasta for us! Just a preference.

try2again

DX2JX2 wrote: »

Wraps aren't really super low cal...better just to think of them as a straight trade off vs. normal bread.

One benefit that wraps do bring is that they're easy to trim so you can use a bare minimum of wrap to contain a certain amount of filling. I easily save 25%-30% of calories from wraps by trimming off two sides square before wrapping up whatever I'm putting inside. This translates to not having any 'unfilled' wrap at the top of your sandwich and not having any 'doubling up' of wrap at the bottom (if using a burrito-like fold). You won't really miss it.

Depends on the wrap. Ole and Tumaro both make low carb wraps for 50 & 60 calories, respectively. I have something called Joseph's Lavash bread (wrap) in the house right now that is 60 calories/serving. I don't buy any of them regularly, but pick some up every once in a while when I find them discounted. Makes for a very calorie friendly burrito for lunch, and they all have a decent amount of fiber, so are very filling

AnnPT77

I don't find pasta or bread all that tasty or satiating, personally, so I just eat less of them. Instead, I eat what I would've put in the sandwich or on the pasta, often bulked up with extra veggies. When I do eat bread or pasta, it's often some higher protein type (like pea, lentil or edamame pasta) so that I get more nutritional bang for my calorie buck.

Smartipants84

I've subbed out pasta for zucchini noodles, butternut squash noodles, and spaghetti squash. If spiralizing zucchini and butternut squash seems too labor intensive, both Target and Publix sell containers of them pre-spiralized. There are thousands of recipes on Pinterest for how to sprialize and prepare veggie noodles. Another option are the Asian mushroom-based noodles. Get the ones in the produce aisle, not the Asian food aisle (the ones from produce taste better). Just note that the mushroom noodles don't have a lot of taste so make your sauce really flavorful.

Another option for hamburger buns are the hamburger thins. Not a bad option.

corinasue1143

Salads instead of sandwiches.
Burger patty and burger type salad (lettuce,tomato,pickle,onion, with mayo, mustard, ketchup based dressing)
Rice, quinoa, potatoes for starchy satisfaction instead of pasta.

estherdragonbat

I'm having a stirfry as I type this. Using spiralized turnip instead of noodles.

nvmomketo

I follow a low carb diet so I just skip the pasta, bread and rice. The actual meat patty, sauces, and stirfrys are the tasty parts anyways.

Lounmoun

HarveysBud wrote: »

Looking for advice on what people use - lower calorie options - for both pasta and bread (hamburger buns, wraps, etc.)

Thanks in advance.

I eat regular pasta and bread. 1 serving in a day is not terrible.
I use lower calorie hamburger buns.
I sometimes have zucchini noodles.