Who doesn’t relish the thought of a hot, meaty dish of lasagna with a generous topping of melted cheese? This hearty dish is an all-time favorite family meal. All the more reason for you to tweak around with the dish, make a few healthy ingredient substitutes, and keep tabs on your family’s health without even a squeak of protest – yes, it’s time to introduce healthy lasagna! All you have to do is be smart about the ingredients you use. A few right choices can make a dramatic difference in terms of cutting carbs and reducing fat. And if you’re worried about losing that rich, indulgent flavor and texture, you need not be concerned at all! These healthy tips will keep this family favorite as tasty as it has always been!
Opt for cheese with a lower fat content. Your local supermarket will have a wide variety of low-fat cheeses to choose from, including cottage cheese! Selecting a low fat cheese can work wonders in transforming your lasagna to healthy lasagna!
If your family is a diehard fan of meat lasagna, scout around for the leanest beef that you can find. Lean mince is usually a richer shade of red, and is often labeled as ‘Premium Mince’ or ‘heart Smart’.
Experiment with the basic beef and tomato lasagna mixture! Add legumes such as kidney beans for a flavorful twist and a dose of wholesome nutrition.
Vegetables in lasagna? Why not! Add your family’s favorite vegetable into the mix for a smattering of essential vitamins and minerals. Vegetables such as spinach taste great in lasagna! You can even add some steamed tomatoes to give your lasagna a kick in terms of flavor.
Try whole meal pasta for a healthy change. Whole meal pasta is crammed with the nutritional and fibrous goodness of whole grains and will help turn your average unhealthy lasagna to something of a healthy lasagna!
Feeling a little adventurous? Use zucchini slices instead of lasagna strips. You might just be pleasantly surprised at the whole new level of texture that zucchini slices bring to your tried and tested lasagna recipe.
Saturated fat leads to high cholesterol levels. Cut down on saturated fat by substituting full-flavored turkey sausages instead of pork sausages to make your lasagna healthy.
Want to cut down on the meat content in your lasagna recipe. Add sliced mushrooms to the recipe. Mushrooms have a flavor that is slightly meaty, and mix in well with the overall flavor!
Store-bought lasagna sauces contain too much salt which is bad for health. Use the freshest ingredient possible to make your own delicious lasagna sauce. Make sure to use some fresh tomatoes and herbs to make a super healthy lasagna.
Add frozen spinach to the recipe for heaps of vitamins, minerals and healthy lasagna!
The kids love eating it, and you love preparing it, but is there any way to make this comfort food a tad bit healthier? All that cheese and meat is bound to have health repercussions if lasagna graces your dinner table regularly. Be smart with your ingredients, and with just a few minor changes, your favorite dish will earn a stamp of health approval; the time has come for a healthy lasagna!
