Pasta with Tomato Sauce

 

"Italian restaurants with more than 120 entrees are always disappointing."
-Miss Piggy, Well known epicure

The refrigerator light goes on...

You can use bottled tomato sauce for this. I look for tomato sauce with 2 grams of fat per serving or less. Look carefully at the Nutrition Facts on the label because some jars list the serving size as 1/4 cup.

Special Diet Information

Coumadin® (Warfarin)
This recipe is safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users.

Lactose
This recipe contains cheese and some of those who are lactose intolerant may be able to tolerate it.

Sodium
This is a low sodium recipe.

GERD / Acid Reflux
This recipe contains GERD triggers and those with GERD may wish to avoid it.

Fiber

Fiber is not one particular food but the part of plant foods that your body can’t digest -- what your grandma called roughage.  She might have thought of getting more roughage as eating more greens and beans but there’s so many other great sources of fiber.

Technically fiber is a carbohydrate but is not absorbed into the body like other carbs because humans don’t have the enzymes to break them down.  As a result foods that are high in fiber are generally lower in calories.  

Most people need to increase the amount of dietary fiber in their diet.  The average American only eats foods with 10 – 15 grams of fiber per day but 25 – 30 grams is optimum.  

Higher fiber diets have been associated with lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, diverticulosis as well as lower cholesterol and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.   

There are two types of fiber – soluble and insoluble:
 
•  Soluble fiber is often called a “sticky” fiber, and is the one that is more effective in lowering cholesterol.  It is found in dried beans and grains, such as oat bran, oatmeal and rye.  Almost all fruits, such as apples, grapes, peaches, oranges and pears, are high in soluble fiber (think sticky fruits). Most vegetables are high in soluble fiber as well.  

•  Insoluble fibers are found in whole grain products, such as whole wheat flour, breads and pastas.  Cereal grains like rice, wild rice and seeds are high in  insoluble fiber.

The easy way to get more fiber in your diet is to eat more fruits and veggies.  Also eating more whole grains and nuts can be good sources of fiber.