Zero Calorie Foods: Spaghetti

How do you feel about zero calorie foods? Yes, you read that right. I’ve been using some 0 calorie foods for some time, but I just recently began incorporating some of them into my low carb diet in new ways. I love low carb foods like meats, fish, and cheese, but sometimes you can’t help but crave something satisfying like pasta. As you probably already know, typical pasta is loaded with calories and carbs. But what if you used a zero calorie food like Miracle noodles in place of traditional pasta? Okay, that takes care of the pasta part, but what about the sauce? Regular pasta sauces and marinara sauces aren’t no calorie foods. In fact, many are high in sugar. The sauces made by Walden Farms, however, are all calorie free foods! They have a wide selection of zero calorie foods, and I’ve tried many of them. Some are great, and some aren’t. Also, some aren’t so wonderful straight out of the jar or bottle, but they can be with some tweaking on your part.

Yes, I’m a fan of Miracle Noodles. Have you tried them yet? The noodles are more than a low calorie food – they’re actually a no calorie food. They’re made from a plant fiber that your body can’t break down and absorb. Also, the different types of Miracle Noodles might be considered as healthy foods because they contain beneficial soluble fiber. The noodles have much the same texture as “al dente” pasta, but they don’t have much flavor by themselves. They are filling, however, and they sort of expand in your tummy after they’ve been consumed, which helps provide that full feeling and help to keep you from getting hungry. They also serve as a great vehicle for sauces, melted cheese, dressings, gravy, herbs, spices, and flavored butters. I’ve found that it’s pretty easy to turn the Miracle Noodles into low calorie meals. And since the noodles don’t have to be cooked, they’re super quick, too. They’ve become an important part of my low calorie diet, which is also a low carb diet.

What you’ll need for one generous serving:

1 package Miracle Noodles fettuccine

¼ cup Walden Farms tomato-basil pasta sauce

1 teaspoon Splenda

¼ teaspoon onion powder

Minced garlic, to taste

Directions: Open Miracle Noodles and place in a strainer. Rinse the noodles under very hot water for a minute or two. If your tap water doesn’t get very hot, you might prefer boiling the noodles for one minute. Drain the noodles well and dump out on paper towels to dry. When dry, place the noodles in a microwave-safe plate or bowl.

Combine remaining ingredients and pour over pasta. Microwave until hot. Add salt, if needed. That’s it!

If you’re on a low carb diet and aren’t severely restricting fats and calories, you can add some shredded mozzarella cheese or some parmesan cheese on top of the pasta before microwaving. That’s usually what I do. You might also like adding a little ricotta cheese along with the mozzarella cheese to the pasta and sauce. This makes the “spaghetti” taste like lasagna! For a low carb diet, you could even add some cooked and crumbled ground beef or sausage to the mix. You can make all sorts of low calorie meals with zero calorie foods!