Pasta Night!

I LOVE pasta. I have ALWAYS loved pasta. I love the rich flavors, the luscious textures, and gorgeous smells.

…I hate that I can’t eat pasta

As a healthy eater, pasta just isn’t an option for me.

1. I have zero self-control. Even if I buy the “healthy” brands of pasta (Ezekiel brand is really great), one serving just doesn’t cut it for me. I always feel unsatisfied
2. Restaurant pastas are loaded with fat, refined carbohydrates, and excessive calories…I’m just not into that
3. I hate that crash I have after eating a huge italian meal. When you eat all of those white carbs, your blood sugar shoots up and then quickly crashes… it makes you feel crappy and tired.
4. I love creamy sauces… they also happen to be the WORST choice for you… ugh

THIS SUCKS!!!

Tonight…I wanted Pasta….

so I had it…and it was GLORIOUS 🙂

What I did:

I made pasta like spirals using this new awesome gadget:  Paderno spiral vegetable slicer

If you don’t have one of these guys… NO PROBLEM!!! use: spaghetti squash, your favorite pasta, steamed vegetables, quinoa etc. this sauce is awesome on anything and everything 🙂

I adapted the recipe from Katies. Check out her blog… its ridiculously great.

Guilt Free Alfredo Sauce

• half a head of cauliflower (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 red pepper
• 1 garlic clove chopped
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1/4 cup cheese of choice (I used  Galaxy brand cheddar)
• 3 tbs parmesan cheese (I used nutritional yeast flakes)
• salt and pepper to taste ( about 1/2 tsp salt—you can always add more)
• optional—-fresh rosemary

Combine all ingredients in a pot and boil until califlower is soft. Pour everything into a blender and blend on high.

**BE careful, it is going to be really hot…you don’t want it to explode in your blender!! Perhaps wait a few minutes until you start blending.

Pour sauce over pasta, add any veggies and ENJOY!!!

My toppings: Spinach, mushroom, artichoke, red pepper, 1 cup of shrimp and 1/4 cup quinoa.

Blended sauce

zucchini spirals and sauce mixed

Added toppings
*Spinach, mushroom, red pepper, artichoke, 1 cup of shrimp, 1/4 cup quinoa

YUMMM… it’s so spirally!!!

This is definitely my new favorite dinner…

It is so important to indulge in foods that you love, but it is so important to find healthy alternatives. Have fun experimenting with substitutions! When you discover a dish that can replace an unhealthy one, you feel like you are cheating the system…and it is AWESOME.

Question: What are your favorite “indulgence” foods?

xoxo SYN