National Lasagna Day

What do you think of when you hear that National Lasagna Day is on July 29? Cheesy goodness, satisfying pasta, and too many carbs and calories may come to mind. What if you could keep the cheesy goodness while avoiding the extra carbs and calories? The BariatricPal Store has ways you can get your lasagna fix and stay right on track with weight loss.

Instant Entrée

BariatricPal Vegetable Lasagna is the epitome of comfort food. It has cheesy layers sandwiched between pasta and hearty meaty filling. You can grab it right from your pantry and have it ready within minutes in the microwave or on the stovetop.

The catch is that it is not traditional comfort food. Instead, it has only 250 calories. It has fiber and protein, and it is low-carb. The filling is meatless, and it is made with real veggies and parmesan, ricotta, mozzarella, and romano cheeses. Serve it alone or with a side salad or bruschetta on Protein Rusk Bread with 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per 110-calorie serving.

Can You Say…“Voodles?”

“Voodles” may not be the technical term for swapping Veggies for nOODLES, but you get the point. Cut the lasagna noodles, and instead use your favorite veggies. Grilled or roasted zucchini and eggplant slices may be most common, but bell peppers and yellow summer squash do the trick just as well.

Bigger Is Better

As long as it fits into your diet, bigger is better. It is more filling and more satisfying. There are some tricks to making “bigger” fit into your calorie budget.

• Go lean with protein: choose extra lean ground turkey or soy crumbles, not fatty ground beef or Italian sausage.
• Cut the fat from cheese: fat-free or low-fat cottage cheese, ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella save you loads of calories.
• Pile on the veggies: actually mix them in. Try spinach, cauliflower, carrots, or broccoli.

Shape May Be Overrated

Depending on the context, shape may or may not matter. We absolutely agree that shape matters when it comes to your own shape, if you are trying to lose weight and keep it off. But we venture to say that the shape of the pasta does not matter! Here is what we are getting at: choose Protein Pasta instead of regular lasagna noodles, and your lasagna suddenly drops carbs and calories.

All you have to give up is the shape. Instead of using wide, flat lasagna noodles, make your dish with fettuccini. Each serving has only 100 calories and 6 grams of carbohydrates, including 3 grams of net carbs, plus a whopping 20 grams of protein. You can still layer it with cheese, veggies, sauce, and meat for a gourmet lasagna.

Mix Up the Meats and Cheeses

Keep your taste buds guessing by making a different version of lasagna every time. Use lean ground turkey, soy crumbles, or even Vegetarian Joe mix. Try cottage cheese and ricotta for fillings, and top your dish with mozzarella, parmesan, or even crumbled Protein Cheese Crisps for a satisfying crunch.

Everyone needs a treat sometimes, and these lasagna ideas can make you feel like you are getting one without going off your meal plan. Great recipes can help you stick to your good intentions by giving you nutrition and taste at the same time.