Holy calories!

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.

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.

@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 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.

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.

I use the bagged Tri-color shredded cabbage mix as a substitute for spaghetti. Actually, I use it to replace many starches - with pot roast & gravy instead of potatoes; with chicken curry instead of rice; etc. adds great nutrition, fiber, flavor for far less calories!

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 wish that would work for me! When I crave spaghetti, I crave the whole thing. Texture, mouth feel, etc., meaning I need the pasta component. And not whole wheat pasta either...the oft vilified stuff :-). There are certainly "spaghetti-like" dishes I make, eat, enjoy, and even crave at times, but when the want is spaghetti, it is real thing or nothing. That said, my version if spaghetti has lots of veggies and protein so it isn't really all that awful.

MsMaeFlowers wrote: »

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.

Spaghetti squash shrimp scampi. Google it. Amazing. I'm celiac, so I can't even cheat with pasta.

I never feel guilty about eating pasta. I weigh 100g dry and eat that with whatever sauce I make. I want it so I make it fit my goals #simples