L'amore Italian Restaurant

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October 18, 2017 by Kim Abbott

Healthy Pasta Eating Tips

Pasta gets a bad rep from fitness junkies, gym rats, and athletes. It’s not the healthiest food on the market but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.

Pasta is an energy food, and as such it has a tendency to end up on our hips and tummies, making us have to occasionally spend time apart from our favorite wardrobe items. But let’s face it, we don’t want to live without pasta. It’s life, for goodness sake. So here are six tips you can use to cook pasta in the healthiest possible way.

  1. Boil the Right Amount of Water

It can be tempting to use less water and reduce cooking times. But pasta needs the right amount to cook correctly. As a general rule, the pasta should take up no more than 1/3 of the space inside the water. If you use too little water, more of that notorious starch on the pasta will remain- and you know what that means.

  1. Ditch the Salt

Most people use salt habitually, especially when cooking pasta thinking it will pour out in the rinse. But beware, much of that salt will be absorbed by the pasta. This can be a shock to people on low salt diets and throw off their numbers. If you must use salt, use sea salt, it has fewer chemicals and tastes better.

  1. Use a Timer

There’s not a huge difference in the time it takes to cook perfect pasta and the time it takes to create an unappealing mush. Most pasta is labeled with a cook time which you should use to set your timer. Cooking your pasta al dente is healthier, and makes it have a lower glycemic index. So check for al dente cooking times on the package.

  1. Rinse Correctly

If you use the pasta within a minute or two of cooking, you can skip the rinse. But if not, you need to do it right. If it’s going to sit for a bit, rinse it good and well to stop the cooking process and to help wash off any excess starch that you don’t want- remembering that starch is our biggest pasta related enemy.

  1. Get a Taste for Whole Wheat

Sure, some people can’t handle this type of grain, but if you can you’re in luck because it’s more nutritious than the ordinary blond noodles most people go for. It’s got lots of fiber and has been linked to better heart health. Sounds like a win-win.

  1. Make it a Vehicle for Superfoods

Cooking pasta gives you the opportunity to sneak in loads of healthy food that you might not ordinarily eat. Dice up spinach, red onions, raw garlic and go heavy on the basil and oregano.

To discover a little taste of Italy, visit L’Amore today.

Filed Under: Food History Tagged With: Cuisine

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Menus
    • Dinner Menu
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  • Reservations
  • Galleries
    • Food Gallery
    • Restaurant Gallery
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Leave a Review
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Menus
    • Dinner Menu
    • Cocktail Hour Menu
  • Reservations
  • Galleries
    • Food Gallery
    • Restaurant Gallery
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Leave a Review
  • Contact

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3159 E Lincoln Dr
Phoenix , AZ 85016
Phone: 602.381.3159

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Credit for most photos: Kay W. Eskridge: Images By Kay

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TBD.
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