15 Healthy Veggie-Based Carb Swaps: Cauliflower Rice, Veggie Noodles & More
Oct
18
2017
Dear Hungry Girl,As a calorie counter, I'm trying to stay away from starchy carbs like rice, potatoes, and pasta. The problem? I LOVE starchy carbs like rice, potatoes, and pasta! Any ideas?
Low-Carb Barb
Hi Low-Carb Barb,No doubt about it: Most starches are as high in carby calories as they are delicious! I'm not saying I never eat them, but I definitely enjoy using veggies as carb alternatives. They're major calorie savers and nutritional powerhouses! Here are some of my favorite ways to swap out starchy carbs for vegetables...
Instead of Rice... Cauliflower Rice
Whether you DIY with a blender or buy it ready-made, cauliflower rice makes an excellent replacement or super-sizer for real grains. Green Giant has a whole lineup of riced veggies in the freezer aisle... Love that!
Instead of Sweet Potatoes... Butternut Squash
Step aside, sweet spuds! Butternut squash has the same great flavor with a fraction of the calories. Perfect for fries, mashies, and more. Your taste buds won't be able to tell the difference! And with the holiday season around the corner, it's perfect for casseroles...
Instead of Bread… Lettuce or Cabbage
Bread is basically the king of all carbs, but I've found perfect alternatives: big ol' lettuce and cabbage leaves! (Of course, they don’t taste like bread, but they get the job done!) Just wrap your sandwich ingredients, and enjoy the crunch and low calorie count. You can even serve your favorite burger goodies over a bed of shredded lettuce for a fun spin...
Instead of Pasta… Zucchini or Turnips
Pasta is a saucy cluster of carbs. But there are so many easy noodle replacements! I can't decide which I love more: zucchini noodles or turnip noodles. Both take on the flavor of your sauce, and the texture is al dente perfection. Grab a fork, and do that signature pasta twirl!
Instead of Pizza Crust… Zucchini, Cauliflower, or Mushrooms
Anything can be pizza crust if you cover it with red sauce and mozzarella! (Okay, maybe not your sneakers.) Whether you leave the vegetable whole or bake it into a crust, you'll enjoy all the traditional pizza flavors without any carb-induced guilt...
Chew on this:
It's October 18th, National Chocolate Cupcake Day. Whip up a batch of these Mini Flourless PB Chocolate Cakes to celebrate!
If your calorie-conscious pals think they need to give up noodles and pizza, you're about to blow their minds... Click “Send to a Friend” now!
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