Please help! Which of the two lunches are healthier?

cutesparky
cutesparky Posts: 6
in Health and Weight Loss
Please help me resolve the issue about healthy dieting.
There are two following lunches:
1) 170 grams of pasta with Pesto sauce and 30 grams of cheese (Gruyer cheese or Parmesan).
2) Four tomatoes and 100 g of Feta Cheese.
What is healthier? What can be eaten on everyday basis as a normal lunch (provided all the other food portions are balanced accordingly)?
«1

Replies

  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    Please help me resolve the issue about healthy dieting.
    There are two following lunches:
    1) 170 grams of pasta with Pesto sauce and 30 grams of cheese (Gruyer cheese or Parmesan).
    2) Four tomatoes and 100 g of Feta Cheese.
    What is healthier? What can be eaten on everyday basis as a normal lunch (provided all the other food portions are balanced accordingly)?

    Goodness knows, the pasta sounds more filling. Add a bit more protein to it and I'd say thats a pretty good meal.

    Tomatoes and feta is a snack or accompaniment.
  • cutesparky
    cutesparky Posts: 6
    Thank you!
    But would you say that the second option is more unhealthy or fatty per se?
    And the person really doesn't do much sport and has office lifestyle.
    THe problem is, that when we have lunch like this (for me the second one is really enough as a lunch), he says the second option, unlike the first, cannot be consumed every day as it contains a lot of fat.
  • 55in13
    55in13 Posts: 1,091 Member
    Please help me resolve the issue about healthy dieting.
    There are two following lunches:
    1) 170 grams of pasta with Pesto sauce and 30 grams of cheese (Gruyer cheese or Parmesan).
    2) Four tomatoes and 100 g of Feta Cheese.
    What is healthier? What can be eaten on everyday basis as a normal lunch (provided all the other food portions are balanced accordingly)?
    If all other foods for the day balance them out, then there is no nutritional advantage to either. Pick the one that satisfies you and gives you the best chance of making it through the day without eating anything unplanned.
  • Seajolly
    Seajolly Posts: 1,435 Member
    Both options need more protein to be considered a healthy meal! Why not add chicken, a hardboiled egg, or another protein source?

    Option 1 would be better than the 2nd because it's going to fill you up more. Option 2 I'd say is healthier but it's a snack, not a meal. You will be hungry again in an hour if that's all you're eating.
  • cutesparky
    cutesparky Posts: 6
    Thank you, 55in13!
    So really both can be eaten on daily basis and neither is worse than another? Feta cheese is not too fat?
  • cutesparky
    cutesparky Posts: 6
    Seajolly, why would you say that Option 2 is healther? (I need to build up my Feta cheese protection stategy)
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    Thank you, 55in13!
    So really both can be eaten on daily basis and neither is worse than another? Feta cheese is not too fat?

    No, feta has not got 'too much fat'.....if anything there is more 'fat' in the pasta from the oil and cheese.....but dietary fat alone will not 'make you fat'.
  • jo_marnes
    jo_marnes Posts: 1,601 Member
    pesto and parmesan? not really going to win in a low fat war!
  • salydra
    salydra Posts: 29
    Option 2 is definitely healthier. This is based mostly on the fact that pasta is bad for you.
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member
    the tomatos because its a vegetable, the top one has pasta which is not as healthy a choice.
  • 55in13
    55in13 Posts: 1,091 Member
    Thank you, 55in13!
    So really both can be eaten on daily basis and neither is worse than another? Feta cheese is not too fat?
    Studies have shown that meal and nutrient timing within the day makes very little difference. Some studies show a little difference for athletes timing their proteins or carbs around heavy activity, but for most of us all that really matters is the totals at the end of the day (actually longer, but that's another story). As long as you aren't getting too much fat in your overall diet it doesn't matter when you get it.
  • lioness803
    lioness803 Posts: 325 Member
    Option 2 is definitely healthier. This is based mostly on the fact that pasta is bad for you.

    Pasta is not bad for you.

    OP-both have fat, I wouldn't be full on just tomatoes, but if you are, go for it! Both sound fine :)
  • cutesparky
    cutesparky Posts: 6
    and why is pasta not a healthy choice?
  • Lala_White
    Lala_White Posts: 52 Member
    If you add 1/2 cup of low-fat or even fat free cottage cheese to the tomato, that will give it some protein factor. Most cottage cheese's in a single serving have about 14g of protein.

    Years ago, I would make a salad with tomato, lettuce and lunch meat (I now would use reduced fat or low sodium ham or turkey) and instead of using a salad dressing, I would cottage cheese.

    Good luck with whatever choices you make though.
  • Jen800
    Jen800 Posts: 548 Member
    Both options need more protein to be considered a healthy meal! Why not add chicken, a hardboiled egg, or another protein source?

    Option 1 would be better than the 2nd because it's going to fill you up more. Option 2 I'd say is healthier but it's a snack, not a meal. You will be hungry again in an hour if that's all you're eating.

    This! Also, in order to reap maximum benefits and keep full, make sure your pasta only has 1 ingredient: it can be "whole grain durum wheat" "whole grain whole wheat" or anything like that. whole grains should NOT start with "eriched wheat flour" "wheat flour" "bleached wheat flour" etc.
  • Jen800
    Jen800 Posts: 548 Member
    Option 2 is definitely healthier. This is based mostly on the fact that pasta is bad for you.

    Pasta is not bad for you.

    OP-both have fat, I wouldn't be full on just tomatoes, but if you are, go for it! Both sound fine :)


    Not sure why you think pasta is bad for you? Whole grain pasta is one of the healthiest meals, especially when paired with protein or a made from scratch pasta sauce. White pasta probably isn't the best choice, but why would you abstain from all pasta?
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    Option 2 is definitely healthier. This is based mostly on the fact that pasta is bad for you.

    Pasta is not bad for you unless you are gluten intolerant. Like all foods, it should not be eaten in excess. But it is not bad for you. Doughnuts are bad for you - if you eat two every day. One a month won't kill you, nor will a sensible (75g) portion of pasta. Of course if you're adding your pesto to 500g then you might have a problem.....

    Both options are fine as part of a BALANCED diet, but I don't think the tomato/feta one would fill me up - I'd rather halve the feta and chop it with the tomato into some couscous or bulgar wheat to fill me up.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    The question is unanswerable.

    For me, it would be option number 2 but I tend to do better when eating low carb and high fat.... my triglycerides are ridiculously low as is my overall cholesterol. I could pretty much drink bacon grease if I wanted to and my lipid panel would still be fantastic. BUT if the person in question has a body that responds differently to a high fat diet, then maybe a lot of cheese might not be a good idea. Also, just because YOU would feel full from tomatoes and cheese for lunch doesn't mean that everyone would!
  • Peni_Davidson
    Peni_Davidson Posts: 54 Member
    Please help me resolve the issue about healthy dieting.
    There are two following lunches:
    1) 170 grams of pasta with Pesto sauce and 30 grams of cheese (Gruyer cheese or Parmesan).
    2) Four tomatoes and 100 g of Feta Cheese.
    What is healthier? What can be eaten on everyday basis as a normal lunch (provided all the other food portions are balanced accordingly)?

    Selection 1 will give you about 15g of fat and selection 2 will give you about 4g of fat, if that is any help.

    Edited to add, don't forget pesto is made from blending herbs with olive oil.
  • cutesparky
    cutesparky Posts: 6
    4 gram of fat? 100 g feta cheese? should itnot be at least ~21?
  • barbaratrollman
    barbaratrollman Posts: 317 Member
    For me, option number 2 would work best, since pasta and other grain-based carbs don't work best for me and my needs. :D I think I'd have to add some greens to the mix though.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    It wholly depends on the rest of your diet and your food sensitivities. I react badly to tomatoes (as confirmed by an allergist/ENT with a prick test but also by the stomach ache and GERD that results from eating them). My niece has Celiac disease. For me, the pasta/pesto is better; for her the tomatoes.

    In a general sense, vegetables are "better for you" than pasta but neither are inherently "bad" foods. Pasta is relatively calorie-dense so it must be eaten in moderation to stay within calorie limits.

    Last night we had a delicious pasta dish for supper but I hit my daily calorie ceiling with no room for evening snacking. Tonight, we will probably eschew starch at supper so I can enjoy more snacks. It's all a balance.
  • savithny
    savithny Posts: 1,200 Member
    I generally split the difference between those two paths. I do smaller servings of pasta with more cheese than you're adding.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    Because some people are "afraid" of carbs.

    Just like some people are "afraid" of fat.

    Even though there is no science to support those fears.

    Note: This is not talking abut anyone who has an actual medical conditions such as celiacs, diabetes, or others that are impacted by a specific macro.

    The pasta would be more filling for a meal in my opinion.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Both are healthy. BUT if I ate the pasta, it has more easily digested starch that will turn to glocose and I would gain more weight and feel hungrier (I highly recommend the book Why We Get Fat).
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    Neither dish is "healthier" than the other.

    Whichever fits in your day based on what you eat for breakfast and dinner is the better choice. We don't know what you're eating for breakfast and dinner.

    Feta cheese is delicious, but I would be sick of it if I ate it everyday. Pesto is also delicious, but I would be sick of it if I ate it everyday.

    Make sure you're getting enough protein and good fats in your diet. You really shouldn't be thinking in terms of eating something so limited, though. Get some variety.
  • ncmedic201
    ncmedic201 Posts: 540 Member
    Both sound great. For me personally, I would stay full longer with the tomatoes and feta. If I eat just pasta without meat then I'm starving again in an hour. Eat what makes you happy.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,286 Member
    Just eat the tomato-feta salad after the pasta, then your golden.
  • kirstyfairhead
    kirstyfairhead Posts: 220 Member
    Pesto is made of oil and herbs and often pine nuts. There could easily be more fat in the pasta dish than the feta dish depending on how much you use etc.

    The argument however is irrelevant... almost all foods can be equally healthy or unhealthy when in isolation. i.e apples seem healthier than belly pork but regardless of which you chose, if that was all you ate you would soon be very poorly.

    The only thing that is relevant is your overall diet!!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I would prefer some pasta with pesto, some feta, some diced tomatoes, with some chicken breast.

    I have pasta regularly - several times a week - but typically bulk it up with a lot of vegetables. I don't really like broccoli, but a piece of broccoli with pesto is just as yummy as a noodle with pesto.

Categories