Pasta is one of the toughest foods to incorporate into a low-glycemic diet because most pastas fall into the high-glycemic category. But you can go low-glycemic and still enjoy pasta if you’re smart about it:
Use low- to medium-glycemic pastas like whole-wheat spaghetti, tortellini, and vermicelli in place of some of the higher-glycemic choices like penne, linguini or fusilli.
Add vegetables and lean protein sources to your pasta so you eat less pasta per serving.
Enjoy high-glycemic pasta in moderation while balancing out the rest of your day with low-glycemic food choices.
In the meantime, enjoy this tasty pasta salad that carries a medium glycemic load:
Low-Glycemic Summer Pasta Salad
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 13–15 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
6 quarts of water
One 16-ounce package whole-wheat or regular spaghetti
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 large orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Italian-style lowfat salad dressing to taste
In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the spaghetti, reduce the heat to low, and cook the pasta until it’s tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, steam the broccoli in a separate pan until it’s just tender, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the spaghetti, broccoli, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and basil. Stir in about 1/4 cup of the salad dressing, gradually adding more to taste until everything’s well coated. Either serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold later.
Per serving: Calories 244 (From Fat 41); Glycemic Load 18 (Medium); Fat 5g (Saturated 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 130mg; Carbohydrate 46g (Dietary Fiber 8g); Protein 9g.
