Healthbolt

A general rule for fat-conscious folks when eating pasta is to avoid all white sauces. Consider Uncle Alfredo’s favorite pasta topping as an example. If you eat Ruby Tuesday’s scrumptious version of Fettuccine Alfredo, its calorie content doesn’t look too bad at 156 calories in a 2 ounce serving (never mind that most of us would consume double that serving!). However, a closer look reveals that a whopping 126 of those 156 calories come from fat, with the total fat count at 14 grams (for the measly 2 ounces)! Why not just eat that stick of butter and forget the flour and seasonings?

Here’s a great alternative; a meatless cheater dish that will be great for New Year’s dinner. This easy recipe calls for you to first cook 1 pound of your favorite pasta, fettuccine if you like; stir in a teaspoon of heart-healthy olive oil after draining. In a small saucepan combine on medium-to-low heat 8 ounces of reduced-fat cream cheese with 1 cup of skim milk. Stir until the cheese melts, and add 1 cup of Parmesan cheese. Remove the pan from the heat and stir until blended. Toss with the pasta: yum! Sprinkle in some basil, a few pine nuts and some sun-dried tomatoes to add taste, texture, prettiness, and lycopene. Lycopene from tomatoes is an antioxidant that may help prevent prostate cancer, heart disease and various skin ailments. Its action is intensified in the sun-dried form, and it becomes easier for the body to use when accompanied by olive oil.

With apologies to Uncle Alfredo, dig in and enjoy.