Meal ideas for pasta.

[pinkin2011]

I will be eating alot of low sodium pasta these next few weeks does anyone have any nice recipes for sauces. I know we are not meant to eat tomato BUT if i see no chage in ph is it ok to eat like the Raguletto pasta sauce? Or should i just avoid it? it has 375mg of sodium per serve... is that too much you think?

[Indira]

Actually in Atomic´s low everything diet we can have tomato but I think it´s better you make your own tomato sauce without salt. 375 mg is half of what you should have all day..
I also eat pasta mixed with some low-sodium ricotta, I really like it and it fills very well.
I eat couscous with nothing every day, love it!

[pinkin2011]

hmmm maybe i should try that... and yeah i could make my own sauce . can we eat onion and garlic ???

[swish]

No but you can have leeks. I love leeks and peeled courgettes with a squeeze of lemon. Or peeled courgettes and aubergine roasted in oven. Homemade salt free breadcrumbs toasted is also really nice on pasta and makes Parmesan go further!

[Indira]

O and yesterday evening I had such a yum meal, I have to share: I cut up half a peeled zucchini, half a peeled aubergine, a leek and champignons. I took some chili sauce and mixed it with the same amount of water and added a spoon of sour cream. Mixed everything together and cooked it in the oven and ate it with white rice, it was SO GOOD!. It probably has a bit too much cals and sodium, but as a treat every 10 days it really helps me to stick with grilled veggies and couscous the other days. Chili sauce is probably not allowed, mine doesn´t have the amount of sodium stated:worry: but is says salt as one of the last ingredients.

[zanacal]

That sounds yum! I know onion and garlic are a no but I've been wondering about chillis - anybody know? I loooooove chillis, which probably means they're good for conceiving boys lol!

... and couscous, I hadn't even thought of that! That's ok is it?

The first day I did the diet (like I'm such a pro after 2 days!!) I had pasta for dinner and it was such a pathetic portion, I was miserable. The next day I realised I'd weighed it cooked instead of raw so I'm much happier now!

I'm planning on making some tomato sauce with tinned tomatoes and leeks and I'll add different vegetables when I heat up a portion for variety. I was going to add a bit of artificial sweetener too.

[swish]

Cous cous is fine
How much pasta are we actually allowed?
I think chilli and spices raises your testosterone but I don't know why I think that (lol) I really hope I'm wrong as flavour would really help in this diet!!!

[rainbowflower]

pasta is neutral pH-wise so you could eat as much as you liked I imagine so long as you don't overdo it in the calorie department?

[zanacal]

Pasta has lots of protein in it too. I can't seem to get to 1500-1800 calories a day (I want to because I'm BFing still) without going way over 40g of protein. I just use the nutritional information on the pasta packet and try and stick to my daily limits.

I'm pretty sure you're right about spices - aren't chillis meant to help you lose weight quicker because your body works harder to burn them off for a few hours after eating them or something? I'm sure Atomic will know when she's next on!

[Mochagirl]

I have the same problem as you, zanacal - I can't get close to 1500 calories without exceeding my protein limit. I wonder if rice pasta has less protein in it. Anyone know?

I only recently realised that garlic is a no-no - any recipes ideas from anyone on how to make pasta sauce have flavour without garlic? I looooove garlic.

[purplepoet20]

I have the same problem as you, zanacal - I can't get close to 1500 calories without exceeding my protein limit. I wonder if rice pasta has less protein in it. Anyone know?

I only recently realised that garlic is a no-no - any recipes ideas from anyone on how to make pasta sauce have flavour without garlic? I looooove garlic.

Tinkyada Spaghetti Style Rice Pasta has...210 cals, 15mg sodium, 100mg potassium, and 4g of protein for a 2oz serving. The normal spaght we buy has the same cals per serving but is sodium free and has 7g of protein.

[purplepoet20]

I wonder if the protein thought is based on maybe what you were eating before each day. I bet I was easily eating a 100grams of protein a day before the girl diet. I did more of a low carb diet and whey protein. I am probably around 50-55 grams right now a day. I don't really think I could do the 40 grams or under because I would be eating a lot of simple carbs and would feel like crap with the sugar spikes and lows and I also probably wouldn't be losing weight as fast as I am now. I know for sure I couldn't do the 6 days a week cardio.

I counted my protein sodium and sugars and I was 10x's the normal req for a BFing mom... very pleased with 40-60g of protein and very little to no sodium and sugar.

[purplepoet20]

Tonight the boys are eating leftover lamb while I eat pasta with a (squash and pumpkin pureer as sauce) I am using onion and garlic on my food because I gave up my mountain for salt but I will never give up garlic :)

[Mochagirl]

Thanks for the info, purplepoet - I think maybe I'll stick with regular pasta since I have a tougher time keeping my sodium low than my protein. I can't eat pasta without parmesan, and at 15mg of sodium, I probably wouldn't be able to add any to my rice pasta!

[purplepoet20]

I gave up all dairy and I do love parm on pasta and my homemade alferado sauce that I will make as soon as I am pregnant... ummm salt filled food!

[Indira]

You´re all very right about the garlic and spices in my chili-sauce :nono: :worry: that´s def. why it was so good, it´s a boys diet diner!
I´m going to try to brew an alternative chili sauce with tomatopaste, red peppers (ok not that good but it´s just every now and then), vinegar, leaks, lemon juice, some spices and maybe pieces of grapes to sweeten it or just aspartame!

Mochagirl you can fry a leek in a little unsalted butter, add a can of tinned tomatoes or fresh ones and spice with Mrs. Dash to make tomatosauce without garlic and let it stir, not as good as with garlic though :sad:

[zanacal]

I adore garlic too ....

jjc - I'm getting around 45g to 50g of protein a day too. I am eating lots of simple carbs but they're all fairly high in protein.

[pinkin2011]

Can some one please tell me what is mrs dash and where can i get it? I am from Australia. You see this is why i dont eat all day i find i am starving when i wake up which is 6am but by 7 it has gone so i go through the day without eating i just find it easier this way and i am not having the trouble of working out what i CAN eat. My usual diet i NEVER skip breakfast and eat what ever i want when ever i want so i really have gone from one extreme to another. There really will be nothing left of me by the time i go off te diet. Anyway so i find pasta is the only thing that will fill me up so i am finding it hard to work out what to put on it.. after eating nothing all day just having plain pasta makes me grumpy!!

[purplepoet20]

It is an herb-spice blend... you can try to google a recipe online. I use my own herbs and spice for whatever meal I am making so I don't use premixed ones.

[atomic sagebrush]

I will be eating alot of low sodium pasta these next few weeks does anyone have any nice recipes for sauces. I know we are not meant to eat tomato BUT if i see no chage in ph is it ok to eat like the Raguletto pasta sauce? Or should i just avoid it? it has 375mg of sodium per serve... is that too much you think?

Traditionally the tomato is avoided not because of pH but because of potassium.

I do think that ALL commercial pasta sauces are way too salty for the girl diet. Even the white sauces are bad because of the sodium.

[atomic sagebrush]

Actually in Atomic´s low everything diet we can have tomato but I think it´s better you make your own tomato sauce without salt. 375 mg is half of what you should have all day..
I also eat pasta mixed with some low-sodium ricotta, I really like it and it fills very well.
I eat couscous with nothing every day, love it!

Yes, I think tomato is fine but be sure to make your own sauce out of tomatoes rather than using commercial sauces. You can also cook vegies in a bit of unsalted butter, puree them (or not) and use that as a pasta sauce.

So if you pureed some zucchini (courgette) and mushrooms and had them on your pasta with a hint of parmesan, that could be one way to eat your pasta. Another way might be a chopped raw tomato tossed with the hot pasta and either a jigger of cream or a pat of unsalted butter.

[atomic sagebrush]

O and yesterday evening I had such a yum meal, I have to share: I cut up half a peeled zucchini, half a peeled aubergine, a leek and champignons. I took some chili sauce and mixed it with the same amount of water and added a spoon of sour cream. Mixed everything together and cooked it in the oven and ate it with white rice, it was SO GOOD!. It probably has a bit too much cals and sodium, but as a treat every 10 days it really helps me to stick with grilled veggies and couscous the other days. Chili sauce is probably not allowed, mine doesn´t have the amount of sodium stated:worry: but is says salt as one of the last ingredients.

Yes, chili sauce is a bit of a no-no but now and then, it's ok.

[atomic sagebrush]

No but you can have leeks. I love leeks and peeled courgettes with a squeeze of lemon. Or peeled courgettes and aubergine roasted in oven. Homemade salt free breadcrumbs toasted is also really nice on pasta and makes Parmesan go further!

Brilliant! On my Low-Everything diet, lemon and vinegar are both allowed so feel free to use them to season your pasta as well. A drizzle of balsamic with mushrooms...

[zanacal]

Oooh, balsamic, I love balsamic - and it has taste!!

[atomic sagebrush]

That sounds yum! I know onion and garlic are a no but I've been wondering about chillis - anybody know? I loooooove chillis, which probably means they're good for conceiving boys lol!

... and couscous, I hadn't even thought of that! That's ok is it?

The first day I did the diet (like I'm such a pro after 2 days!!) I had pasta for dinner and it was such a pathetic portion, I was miserable. The next day I realised I'd weighed it cooked instead of raw so I'm much happier now!

I'm planning on making some tomato sauce with tinned tomatoes and leeks and I'll add different vegetables when I heat up a portion for variety. I was going to add a bit of artificial sweetener too.

Make sure the tinned tomatoes are low sodium - they actually have quite a bit of salt usually. When in doubt, use raw toms because they are very low in sodium.

Beware because a serving size of pasta is actually quite small. About 1/2 c cooked pasta is a serving.

Have you guys seen these crazy pastas? They have no protein, no calories, no carbs...they are like magic!!

http://www.miraclenoodle.com/
http://www.nooodle.com/

[atomic sagebrush]

Pasta has lots of protein in it too. I can't seem to get to 1500-1800 calories a day (I want to because I'm BFing still) without going way over 40g of protein. I just use the nutritional information on the pasta packet and try and stick to my daily limits.

I'm pretty sure you're right about spices - aren't chillis meant to help you lose weight quicker because your body works harder to burn them off for a few hours after eating them or something? I'm sure Atomic will know when she's next on!

Chilis are ok by me in moderation but of course are not allowed on IG because they are alkalinizing.

If you have trouble getting to 1500-1800 without exceeding your limits of protein, increase your intake of fruits and sweets.

I know it's tough to do because I've been working on teh diet, but if I didn't think it would work, I wouldn't recommend it!

[swish]

How much is a cup????? We don't measure in cups, does anyone know how many grams that is. Half a cup sounds like a small portion!

[zanacal]

Fear not Atomic, I studied the labels on all the tinned tomatoes in the supermarket - they varied wildly actually! I'm going with the nutritional information on the packet of pasta in my cupboard :D

Those noodles ARE crazy - how can a food have no calories?!!!

[atomic sagebrush]

Oooh, balsamic, I love balsamic - and it has taste!!

Just make sure it has no sodium - some gourmet vinegars are sneaky and toss some salt in. :/

[atomic sagebrush]

How much is a cup????? We don't measure in cups, does anyone know how many grams that is. Half a cup sounds like a small portion!

It is a small portion, I'm sorry I don't know about the grams. It's fine to eat more than one serving.

[zanacal]

Thank you :D

[atomic sagebrush]

Fear not Atomic, I studied the labels on all the tinned tomatoes in the supermarket - they varied wildly actually! I'm going with the nutritional information on the packet of pasta in my cupboard :D

Those noodles ARE crazy - how can a food have no calories?!!!

They are made entirely out of fiber and they've been eaten in Asia for centuries or something like that. I am going to buy some and see if they are edible but they seem perfect for pink swayers.

[atomic sagebrush]

I wonder if the protein thought is based on maybe what you were eating before each day. I bet I was easily eating a 100grams of protein a day before the girl diet. I did more of a low carb diet and whey protein. I am probably around 50-55 grams right now a day. I don't really think I could do the 40 grams or under because I would be eating a lot of simple carbs and would feel like crap with the sugar spikes and lows and I also probably wouldn't be losing weight as fast as I am now. I know for sure I couldn't do the 6 days a week cardio.

Less is less and certainly a step in the right direction but I think 40 g is doable for most people and ensures that we will be losing muscle mass. 50 g is a normal amount of protein for women, not unusually low.

[swish]

How big is the cup or is there not actually a cup! Is it like a cup of tea cup! If it is I'm having a few cups!!!!

[atomic sagebrush]

I counted my protein sodium and sugars and I was 10x's the normal req for a BFing mom... very pleased with 40-60g of protein and very little to no sodium and sugar.

:agree: we also have to keep in mind that our bodies don't KNOW that they live in a world where there is meat sold in the grocery store...all these swaying mechanisms evolved in a world where our ancestors probably didn't even get to eat meat once a week, let alone once a day. They didn't have spaghetti either...they subsisted on whatever they could hunt/gather and they were lucky to get 40 g of protein a day!

[atomic sagebrush]

Tonight the boys are eating leftover lamb while I eat pasta with a (squash and pumpkin pureer as sauce) I am using onion and garlic on my food because I gave up my mountain for salt but I will never give up garlic :)

Oh that is a good idea PP - I had a winter squash pasta sauce once that was really really quite good.

Also, don't forget there is always spaghetti squash as a pasta analogue as well. Low cal and low protein.

[atomic sagebrush]

Can some one please tell me what is mrs dash and where can i get it? I am from Australia. You see this is why i dont eat all day i find i am starving when i wake up which is 6am but by 7 it has gone so i go through the day without eating i just find it easier this way and i am not having the trouble of working out what i CAN eat. My usual diet i NEVER skip breakfast and eat what ever i want when ever i want so i really have gone from one extreme to another. There really will be nothing left of me by the time i go off te diet. Anyway so i find pasta is the only thing that will fill me up so i am finding it hard to work out what to put on it.. after eating nothing all day just having plain pasta makes me grumpy!!

Personally I cannot stand Mrs. Dash, so if you just use a bit of basil and a bit of oregano with a squeeze of lemon and a pat of unsalted butter, your pasta will be greatly improved!!

No one is allowed to starve around here - 1500-1800 cals!

[atomic sagebrush]

How big is the cup or is there not actually a cup! Is it like a cup of tea cup! If it is I'm having a few cups!!!!

Yes, it is like a teacup. They say that is why people gain weight from eating pasta, because NO ONE ever eats just the actual serving size!!

When dieting, I have also mixed cauliflower and pasta 1/2 and 1/2 and it was delectable. That way you'll feel more fulfilled without getting too much protein.

[swish]

Thank you! I'll be getting my cup out tomorrow

[pastelpicnic]

Yes, it is like a teacup. They say that is why people gain weight from eating pasta, because NO ONE ever eats just the actual serving size!!

When dieting, I have also mixed cauliflower and pasta 1/2 and 1/2 and it was delectable. That way you'll feel more fulfilled without getting too much protein.

Rachel Ray has a fabulous Cauliflower and pasta recipe!! Everyone in my house loves it. Although its more than likely not TTC girl diet friendly. I'm sure you could tweak it to fit ttc girl diet needs.

[purplepoet20]

If I made Cauliflower with pasta or even as a side hubby would leave me... stubburn Italian Vikings :) Cauliflower, lima beans, spinach, mushroom, and brussel sprouts are not allowed near hubbies food but I can eat whatever I want.

[purplepoet20]

I made a meal once where I used spag squash as noodles and topped it with fresh spinach, onion, garlic and tomatoes... it has been years since I ate but it was so good that I can taste it just thinking about it. Good thing the farmers martket is opening tomorrow, so excited.

The sauce was acorn/butternut/spag squash and a small pumpkin... It was pureered with 8cps of water. Some was used for sauce but the rest was used last winter as a soup base. All I did was add a little pepper and basil and put it on plain pasta and it was so good DS2 ate an adult size serving.

[zanacal]

Ooh, I love butternut squash (seems to be pretty much the only type of squash in the supermarket here!). I will definitely puree some for a pasta sauce. Thanks :D