Pasta (should I limit my intake)

MummyBakerCupcakeMaker
MummyBakerCupcakeMaker Posts: 42 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm unsure whether to limit my pasta intake. Having followed slimming world previously, the advice there was to eat as much as you want but looking at the calorific value, I can't see this being correct. Any advice would be helpful :-)
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Replies

  • fr33sia12
    fr33sia12 Posts: 1,258 Member
    I limit myself to a 50g portion of pasta which is 167 calories and make sure it fits into my allowed calorie intake for the day. It doesn't matter how much pasta you eat as long as you don't go over the calories for the day. I just like to have a set amount I don't go over so I know I'm not going over my calories for the day.
  • DVall30
    DVall30 Posts: 28 Member
    Its all about the calorie deficit at the end of the day but pasta tends to bloat me so i limit how much i eat of it. I def wouldnt eat it for dinner if i was going to sleep soon after
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    williammuney wrote: »
    No you should limit your calorie intake

    This

    If pasta fits in your cals and macros, you're golden!
  • robs_ready
    robs_ready Posts: 1,488 Member
    hayleyogden25 wrote: »
    I'm unsure whether to limit my pasta intake. Having followed slimming world previously, the advice there was to eat as much as you want but looking at the calorific value, I can't see this being correct. Any advice would be helpful :-)

    Limit your pasta, it'a calorific. But take the holistic view to control calorie intake. Make sure you get a good balance of carbs fat and protein, you need all of them, good luck!
  • cecsav1
    cecsav1 Posts: 714 Member
    @emmadonaldson95 I LOVE love love zoodles!
  • SugarySweetheart
    SugarySweetheart Posts: 154 Member
    According to a bariatric surgeon, you should NOT eat pasta to lose or maintain weight. The healthier choice is to eat protein, vegetables and low sugar fruit, like berries within your caloric intake boundaries. Pasta as with bread, rice, potatoes, and other starches, turn to sugar to be used as energy BUT if you don't use them they get stored as fat. If you want pasta pease be careful with your portion size and the amount of calories you're eating.
  • 85Cardinals
    85Cardinals Posts: 733 Member
    edited May 2016
    Damn, you really do love that pasta! Original post is fairly ambiguous btw, hard to tell what she's really asking. Like if you love pasta and "eat as much as you want", you'll probably be going over the number of calories you need to eat to lose weight.
  • SugarySweetheart
    SugarySweetheart Posts: 154 Member
    emmadonaldson95 wrote: »
    hayleyogden25 wrote: »
    I'm unsure whether to limit my pasta intake. Having followed slimming world previously, the advice there was to eat as much as you want but looking at the calorific value, I can't see this being correct. Any advice would be helpful :-)

    I've pretty much ditched pasta because to get a portion size I want the calories just arent worth it with my goal I'd rather 'spend' them elsewhere.
    I'm seriously considering a spiralizer though to make vegetti because pasta and easy sauces could be super low calorie like that and fast.

    An excellent replacement because most of us enjoy the marinara sauce and cheese put upon the pasta and you get all the flavor without the pasta.
  • UncaToddly
    UncaToddly Posts: 146 Member
    SugarySweetheart wrote: »
    emmadonaldson95 wrote: »
    hayleyogden25 wrote: »
    I'm unsure whether to limit my pasta intake. Having followed slimming world previously, the advice there was to eat as much as you want but looking at the calorific value, I can't see this being correct. Any advice would be helpful :-)

    I've pretty much ditched pasta because to get a portion size I want the calories just arent worth it with my goal I'd rather 'spend' them elsewhere.
    I'm seriously considering a spiralizer though to make vegetti because pasta and easy sauces could be super low calorie like that and fast.

    An excellent replacement because most of us enjoy the marinara sauce and cheese put upon the pasta and you get all the flavor without the pasta.

    We have tried the Vegetti (pencil sharpener type) on zucchini and weren't crazy about it. Not enough body to the zoodle. Using cauliflower riced as a substitute for rice or mashed in substitute of potatoes has worked well though.

    We have recently found a spaghetti at Costco (Explore Asian) that is made just from edamame that is great for those of us on low carb/high protein diets. A 2oz (dry wt.) portion is 204 cal, 21g carbs, 11g Fiber and 24g Protein. Best part is that it is no different than any other dry pasta you buy to me. Online, you can also buy other ones they make from different beans as well, such as black beans, mung beans and adzuki beans that are similar in nutritional makeup.
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    I love pasta! And I weigh it carefully and fit it into my calories. Of course I don't just eat the pasta.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I've limited pasta because it has been a BIG help in limiting cals and keeping a proper macro balance. I have it a couple times a month at most. I rarely order it when eating out. When I do, I puck off the protein & any veggies and eat a small amount of pasta. I usually save at least half to take home & work into 2 more meals. I imagine that a plate of pasta & sauce would use all my cals for the day & screw up my macros.
  • lseed87
    lseed87 Posts: 1,105 Member
    That all depends on HOW much you've been eating. Also on your carb macros. Would you be going over calorie wise? 1-2 cups would be ideal or you could even measure out the pasta to fit within your goals. I like to add chicken for more added protein. Also a lot of pastas now like the penne kind have more added protein these days. Maybe compare brands/labels to find better options
  • mis1022
    mis1022 Posts: 109 Member
    I find eating pasta doesn't keep me full when I am staying in my calorie goal. I do still occasionally have spaghetti for dinner. Its now whole wheat but I have to carefully portion.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,257 Member
    This is a kind of question that only you can answer. If I assume you want to lose weight, and be healthy, these both depend on your overall way of eating, not whether one food is or isn't part of it.

    Here's how I've looked at it: As I was losing 60+ pounds, and especially at the beginning, I'd take a look at my food diary at the end of each day. I'd look at the foods that contributed substantial amounts of calories, and think about whether they contributed enough nutrition, fullness, and tastiness to be worth those calories.

    If the answer was "no", then I'd limit or eliminate that food, replacing it with something that better met my goals.

    For weight loss, all you need is for your calories consumed to be less than your calories burned off through daily living and/or exercise.

    For best health results, you want your overall food/drink consumption to give you enough protein and healthy fat, adequate fiber, plus a well-rounded balance of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc. - usually most easily achieved by getting 5-9 servings daily of varied fruit and veg). Beyond that, food choice is about what you personally find filling and delicious, and no one else but you knows what's filling and delicious for you.
  • vczK2t
    vczK2t Posts: 309 Member
    edited May 2016
    I would weigh it precooked, use whole wheat for extra fiber, and not worry about the carbs. i am currently on slimming world, but i wouldn't pay attention to the part that says eat as much as you want. I eat until I am satisfied.
    Also, I LOVE pasta. so i will never completely give it up. that being said, it really is calories in vs calories out. I just add to pay attention to what your body says it wants and when it is satisfied.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    There is nothing inherently wrong with pasta, but it is calorie dense and it is easy to overeat. IMO, pasta is one of those food items that you absolutely must weigh (uncooked) so you can get a true idea of a "serving size". Most people are pretty shocked when they discover how small a 2 oz, 200-calorie uncooked portion of pasta is.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    edited May 2016
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    Here's my concern with the strict interpretation of calories in vs calories out... you could eat 1200 (or whatever your goal is) calories of pasta per day. Would you still lose weight? Yes, if you burn more than 1200 calories a day. Would you get enough nutrients? No. Period. So... short answer, you don't necessarily have to "limit your pasta intake," just make sure you're eating within your calorie goal AND not eating so much pasta that you can't fit protein, veggies, etc in there too.

    Eating 1200 calories of any single food would be a poor choice, nutritionally. The healthiest thing is to eat a variety of foods, of which certainly some can be pasta, if you like it.

  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    jenniferquan wrote: »
    No, pasta and carbs don't make you fat! If you don't believe me, check out freelee the bananas girl on YouTube. Go high carb vegan and you won't have to restrict calories ever again.

    This is poor advice, especially because it's not true at all.

    Not restricting calories (eating too much) makes us fat no matter what we eat.

  • MummyBakerCupcakeMaker
    MummyBakerCupcakeMaker Posts: 42 Member
    Thank you everyone :-) I think I've been going wrong by not weighing, more guessing, my portion of pasta. I put 1lb on over the weekend, which I'm pretty annoyed about, but I've pin pointed it to the pasta. I will definitely limit my intake and probably only have it once or twice a week.
  • megomerrett
    megomerrett Posts: 442 Member
    This isn't slimming world so no rules like that but cutting my pasta portions does happen to do my day's calories within the 1200 I'm aiming for.
    If eating less pasta means I can have an extra egg at breakfast or a pudding of yoghurt and honey after my pasta meal then that's a win for me!
    It does look a little sad on my plate so I just fill up the space with salad (with balsamic not a creamy dressing).
  • missball
    missball Posts: 21 Member
    Weighing your pasta and rice is a really good idea. We used to have 100g (uncooked) each and suprise-surprise there was always some left for seconds. We have eventually got it down to about 70-80g each, which is perfect. I intend to reduce that even more by subbing some of the pasta for zoodles. Wholegrain pasta is more filling so you would need less. I was brought up on "2 full handfuls of dry pasta per person", but weighing works much more consistently.
    Rice is a weird one I find, we have ~15g less dry rice each if it's Basmati (50-60g each) compared to normal long grain (75g), even less of brown (~50g); they are not all created equal: some expand more than others or are more filling. Yet to try cauliflower rice though.

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