PopSugar

Quinoa Pasta

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0800

If you're like me, you're always looking for something new to make for dinner that is tasty and healthy, you should give quinoa pasta a try.

It's made with a blend of quinoa and corn flours, so it's wheat and gluten free, making this pasta much easier on your tummy. Each serving contains 2.5g of fiber and 5g of protein, which is about the same in regular semolina pasta. However, if you're watching your carbs, quinoa pasta has a little less.

You can get linguine spaghetti, elbows, spirals, or my favorite shape, garden pagodas. These are great for kids because they are colored red and green with dried red bell pepper and spinach (but they taste the same).

Quinoa pasta is quick and easy to cook. Just boil some water and throw the dried pasta in. It doesn't take as long to cook as regular semolina pasta, so just watch it because if you overcook it, it gets really soggy and squishy, like when you leave cereal in milk too long.

Fit's Tips: Add sautéed veggies like mushrooms, red peppers, and zucchini and your favorite tomato sauce and you're good to go. Buy it at your local health food store or online for $2.59.

Whole Grain Pasta Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:15:00 -0700

Who doesn't love a big bowl of pasta? Penne with tomato sauce, spaghetti and meatballs, spinach lasagna, spirals with pesto. There are so many healthy recipes you can make using pasta and now there are so many different kinds of pasta to choose from.

Whole wheat pasta is all the rage right now, but it's not the only healthy pasta out there. Want to see how whole grain pastas compare nutritionally? Then read more.

Here's the nutritional info for 1/2 a cup of dry pasta.

Pasta	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Corn	214	1	51.4	2	1	5
Durum semolina	200	1	41	2	2	7
Kamut	210	1.5	38	6	2	10
Kamut and quinoa	210	2	40	5	2	8
Kamut and buckwheat	200	1.5	39	5	3	9
Quinoa	180	2	35	2.5	3	4
Rice	200	0	44	2	0	5
Rice and corn	204	.43	49	1.8	.5	5
Rye	200	0	44	8	1	6
Soba (buckwheat)	190	1	37	3	2	8
Spelt	190	1.5	40	5	4	8
Spelt and buckwheat	210	2	41	4	2	6
Whole wheat	180	1.5	35	6	1	7

Since all of these pastas have unique flavors and textures, and they're pretty similar nutritionally, it'll all come down to personal preference when choosing which one to eat. Tell me, what's your favorite kind of pasta?

Your Healthy Food Swaps

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

Since decadent foods like ice cream, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in the calorie department, it's good to have a few healthy food swap ideas up your sleeve. Here are some shared by fellow FitSugar readers.

"Avocado instead of mayo . . . sure it may have fat in it but it's healthy fat and tastes delicious. Hummus instead of cream in sauces and soups . . . adds a ton of flavor and protein." - mamasitamalita
"I use balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette) on my salads without any oil. It gives the same powerful flavor kick but for a lot less calories." - laellavita
"Replace ranch dressing on my salad with cottage cheese." - genipher85

For more great ideas, keep reading

Five Dinners That Improve With Time

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:30:12 -0700

In theory, we can all sing the virtues of leftovers: By eating them, you're not only saving money, but also time, energy, resources, and possibly calories. But in reality, some of you just can't stomach the idea of eating yesterday's food. The solution? Take it from SavvySugar: Prepare foods that taste better the next day. For those of you who need a little convincing, here are five dishes that really do taste better the next day.

View Slideshow ›

Worried About High Blood Pressure? Eat Whole Grains

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:00:31 -0700

High blood pressure (hypertension) isn't something only older people have to worry about. It can happen at any age and since it can lead to serious heart problems, you want to get yours checked and do all you can to keep it at a healthy level. Aside from exercising regularly and limiting your salt intake, there's something else you can do to ward off high blood pressure. A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says loading up on whole grains can help. In the study, men with the highest whole grain intake were 19 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure.

So start consuming whole grains regularly such as farro, millet, quinoa, barley, and bulgar. Add oats to your yogurt or cookie recipes, eat rice with your beans, enjoy popcorn with your movie, and opt for breads, pastas, and cereals that are made with whole grains. It's recommended to eat at least three ounces (85 grams) of whole grains a day. Do you get that much?

5 Grains You Should Be Cooking With

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:46 -0700

Grains like rice and carbs like pasta are classic standbys, but they become exponentially healthier when they're unrefined. I am talking about whole grains. So swap out white rice for brown, use quinoa instead of pasta, and throw some bulgar wheat in that burger. You'll lower your risk of cancer and build up your body's levels of fiber, vitamin E, iron, manganese, and zinc. Here are five overlooked grains that you should consider adding to your next meal. I have even included recipes to get you started.

Source: Getty

View Slideshow ›

Food Review: Quinoa Polenta

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Quinoa tops my list for favorite whole grains because it's so high in protein and fiber - 1/4 cup dry quinoa contains six grams of each. I'm also a huge fan of polenta, so I was stunned with excitement when I came upon Quinoa Polenta. Two delicious foods coming together as one. "Simply brilliant," I thought, and placed it in my cart immediately.

It's made with both red and black quinoa so I was certain it'd be outstanding. To find out if it lived up to my high expectations, read more.

I'm happy to say that I now have a new favorite polenta. This Quinoa Polenta has a hearty flavor, and when I cooked slices of it in a pan with a little oil, it turned out crispier than the other flavors I've tried. Crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. Even my kids loved it. As you can see, it's low in calories, has no fat or cholesterol, and has a decent amount of protein. I thought this Quinoa Polenta would have tons more fiber than the Basil Garlic flavor I usually buy, but it doesn't have much. Oh well, but it is fairly low in sodium, which is great if high blood pressure runs in your family.

Serving Size	Quinoa Polenta	Basil Garlic Polenta
Serving Size	5 2.5-inch slices	5 2.5-inch slices
Calories	80	71
Total Fat	0 g	0 g
Saturated Fat	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg
Sodium	270 mg	310 mg
Carbs	16 g	15 g
Fiber	1 g	1 g
Sugars	0 g	1 g
Protein	2 g	2 g

I'd definitely recommend trying this Quinoa Polenta. Polenta is made from corn meal so it's also gluten and dairy free. Buy a tube for around $4 and substitute slices for pasta, or make creamy polenta by heating it with water, milk, or veggie broth.

Learn to Love: Quinoa

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:30:00 -0700

We all know that eating whole grains is so good for us. It gives us sustained energy, contains protein and has fiber to keep us regular. Some grains can be difficult to digest, but not Quinoa. It's light and easy on your tummy because it's not sticky or heavy.

How does it taste? Quinoa doesn't have a very unique or strong flavor whatsoever, so you can eat it plain, or it'll take on the flavor of whatever you add to it. The texture however is very unique. It's firmer than rice or cooked millet, kind of like al dente pasta. You can also buy it in 2 varieties - white or red, which makes it the most exciting grain of all.

Another great thing about quinoa is that it's fast and requires hardly any effort to make. All you do is take a pot, add 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water. Cover the pot and cook it on HIGH. After it comes to a boil, reduce to simmer. After 20 minutes, give it a stir and it's done. How easy is that?

OK, so it tastes good and it's easy to make, but is it good for you? YES! It's nutritionally unbelievable. Want to see the stats? Then read more

Here's how 1/4 cup of dry Quinoa compares to other grains:
Grain	Calories	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Quinoa	140	1	29	6	6
Amaranth	170	2	29	3	7
Barley	176	.5	38	7.8	5
Brown Rice	171	1.25	36	1.5	3.75
Millet	150	1.5	34	2	5
Oats	77	1	13	2	3
Spelt	50	.5	13	3.5	2
Wheat	140	0	29	6	5

I love that it has 6g of protein and 6g of fiber. It's very similar to wheat, but so versatile. You can add it as a side dish to a meal, or add your favorite ingredients and make it a meal all on its own.

This is what Quinoa looks like cooked. It has such a delightfully simple taste and interesting texture, it's sure to be a hit the next time you serve it.

Fit's Tips: Looking for a delicious way to eat quinoa? Check out this recipe for Garden Vegetable Quinoa.

Source and Source

10 Healthy Foods to Try

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Eating is one area where many people remain happily in their comfort zones. Admittedly, I used to be a very picky eater, but have learned to embrace the healthy bounty that exists, particularly in the produce aisle. A group of nutritionists was asked to round up 10 foods that aren't commonly incorporated in the diets of many Americans, but would be nutritious ways to mix things up. Many of the items on this list are part of my regular diet, particularly broccoli rabe, edamame, and quinoa. Have you been eating these 10 foods to try?

Kiwi
Broccoli rabe
Brazil nuts
Edamame
Red lentils
Quinoa
Canned salmon
Prawns
Whole grain and multigrain pastas
Pomegranate

Source

Carbs: Simple vs. Complex

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Hopefully by now you know that no and low carb diets aren't the way to go if you want to lose weight. You may drop pounds at first, but as soon as you start eating carbs again, you'll end up gaining the weight back. Also, let me remind you that not all carbs are bad. There are healthy carbs, full of valuable vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein that you should be eating.

In order to know which ones you should be eating, you need to know the difference between simple and complex carbs. To do so just read more.

Simple carbs are mostly made up of refined sugars with very few essential vitamins and minerals. These carbs metabolize quickly, creating a sugar high and followed quickly by a sugar low. Enjoy simple carbs in moderation. Foods such as white bread, soda, candy, and foods made with white flour and white sugar such as cookies, crackers, pasta, and breads are considered simple carbohydrates.

Complex carbs are made up of starch and fiber, so they release gradually and provide our bodies with a steady source of energy. Foods such as beans, fruit, veggies such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, and whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat, and barley are complex carbs. When you eat them, they make you feel full and satisfied for longer, so you end up eating less.

It helps to be a label reader and look for foods made with whole grain flour, not enriched flour, and limit the amount of foods you eat that contain sugar.