Slim Tip: The Spinach Swap
Don't get me wrong, I love to commit a little carbicide* here and there by enjoying a bowl of pasta or a slice of pizza. Unfortunately, eating carb-heavy meals regularly isn't exactly figure friendly–especially during the summer when your next bikini outing could be any minute (queue horror music).
One of my favorite slim secrets was something a fellow intern taught me back in college. She suggested that I swap my pasta for spinach when I am trying to cut back on carbs. The idea is: keep everything else in the recipe the same and just make "the spinach swap." When I tried it, I was more than pleased with the result. It's really delicious, especially if you add in extra vegetables and go with a lighter sauce. The swap totally hit the spot. Spinach pseudo-pasta helped me fulfill my pasta craving without the carbs. But, if you absolutely need the noodles, quarter the amount of pasta and substitute the rest with spinach.
This trend has really caught on. In fact, I've discovered a few restaurants around LA that offer the spinach for pasta substitute.
In the end, just because it's bikini season doesn't mean we have to completely sacrifice our carboliscious cravings... We must simply make a few minor meal adjustments.
Do you have any Slim Tip swap suggestions? If so, share them in the comments below.
XO Lauren
*Carbicide {car-beh-side} noun 1. The act of metaphorically ending one's life due to overindulging in carbohydrates. Origin: Bruno. Related Words: pizza, pasta, bread basket, all-nighter
P.S. For more diet friendly dining, check out my blog on summer salads by clicking here!
UPDATE: I noticed a lot of you asking how I prepare the spinach... I actually sauté it in a little olive oil and then mix it in with the rest of the veggies, sauce and such. Just make sure you use a lot of spinach since it cooks down quite a bit.
Photo: weheartit
93 comments
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I LOVE having zucchini chopped up in a big dice, microwaving it for a minute and having bolognese sauce over it. I actually preffered it to pasta the first time I tried it! -
When my mom bakes cakes, she uses apple sauce instead of butter. Also, in my house, we make sure to buy whole wheat anything and everything. :) -
When I'm trying to not eat a lot of carbs and stay away from pasta I swap out for spaghetti squash. It tastes good and because it looks like pasta I think it helps to mentally feel like you are still eating pasta. It can still be very filling. I add lots of veggies and a sauce and its great!
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I really need to try this because I LOVE pasta but I am diabetic so I have to watch my carb intake.
Chao
Poppie
http://thepoppie.com -
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Best way to have the yummy green stuff,is sautay-in it with some onion and garlic,adding a bit of feta and italian herbs and crushed almonds..and adding it to a honey chicken brest( for dinner)..YUM * :)
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sorry to be a spelling stickler, but that should be cue, not queue... unless the horror music is forming a line ;)
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I actually tried adding more spinach to my diet this summer (i live down under in Australia (: ), and due to my over shopping over Christmas, i didnt have much of a budget for quite some time, so i went straight to Cashew nuts, Almonds, and Spinach.
I'd eat the nuts as a snack when i got a bit peckish through the day, but on the weekdays, i would have baby spinach with beetroot coleslaw (its just like shredded beetroot, carrot and something else i cant remember right this second), then mixed with a good amount of italian dressing (the amount varies on your individual taste).
and seriously, it was the yummiest dinner. then i would treat myself with a satay chicken hokkien noodle dinner or a mushroom pizza on the weekend, and i wouldn't feel guilty (:
i know this is an old post, but i hope this helps if someone sees it. (:
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i think spaghetti squash is a great alternative to spaghetti or any other tyoe of pasta. You can have meatballs along with or just with some sauce and maybe some veggies (sauteed or brolied or stir fried). its got great crunch and prety filling!
Yay spa ghetti squash
It'll get you into your skinnies in no time!
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I love spinach!! I used to hate it because it was green (lol) but with one week that i substituted a side for spinach to my lunch and dinner meal i lost 6lbs !! Amazing and I didnt gain them back either! :) ...I also like to snack on celery/apples with peanut butter and mushrooms. The peanut butter helps by keeping me full a lil longer and the mushrooms are excellent antioxidants.
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I love doing zuccini or squash for pasta! I'm definitely going to have to try spinach though!
http://www.soupforthegirlysoul.blogspot.com
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Another great sub for pasta is zucchini that has been cut with a spiral or julienne vegetable peeler. It makes "noodles" that can be eaten raw in a pasta type salad or quickly cooked and topped with your favorite sauce. It really feels like you are indulging in real pasta!
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Worked Great! I had some tomatoe sauce that need to get used and opted for half quinoa pasta and half spinach. Made the meal lighter in the summer heat!
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I love to boil a spaghetti squash and use a fork to separate the spaghetti like strands and I toss it with all my favorite pasta toppings. The spaghetti squash not only looks like spaghetti but it has a similar consistency and taste.
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great idea! I'm curious to try this
My slim tip is to drink a glass of water before you begin your meal. You'll get fuller faster and you won't eat as much!
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That's one of my favorite slim tips. I try to avoid gluten, and filling up on veggies and greens in place of pasta and such is the most natural ways to do it. Spiralized zucchini is also an amazing pasta swap-out. My toddler and I even used spiral-sliced cucumbers the other day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJHkrp3wOig Delicious and nutritious!
- Shannonmarie
www.rawdorable.blogspot.com
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