Pasta sometimes gets a bad reputation by those who are conscious of their waistlines. You shouldn’t have to say ‘I couldn’t possibly eat that’ at the mention of noodles. Life should be enjoyed! We just need to reset the way we think about some types of food.
Contrary to the romantic Hollywood portrayal, pasta is not consumed by the plate full with gallons of wine at every meal by Italians. There are beautiful vegetables, and in some regions fish that by no mean play second fiddle. When many of us sit down to an ‘Italian’ dinner, a large flat bed truck comes and delivers pasta by the ton to the table. I’m exaggerating of course, but it’s time to enjoy pasta without guilt. Use vegetables and alternative sauces to give the dish a healthy face lift.
Pasta salads, picnic style, could certainly use a mini face lift. No more heavy mayo dressings with a single cherry tomato to round out the veggie intake for the picnic. Bulk up that dish by adding a variety of produce and have the noodles become more of the ‘topping’ than a base.
For lunch I added chopped spinach, northern beans, and celery along with about a tablespoon of red wine vinegar for a kick. The beans added a satisfying savory find while the chopped celery gave a crunch. If you look at the picture I snapped pre-meal, you’ll see more spinach than shells. This way, I enjoyed my pasta guilt free and savored some incredible fresh produce.
You don’t have to say no to pasta! The next time you score an invite to a picnic, challenge yourself to bring a super healthy and delicious pasta salad, complete with in season veggies and a killer sauce!
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