Tonight we did one of my favorite things of spring: our first family barbecue of the season! As an outdoor lover, there’s nothing better than combing my love of nature with two of my other passions: family and FOOD.
We all know that barbecue isn’t something that is traditionally associated with healthy eating. As a woman who has also struggled with her weight, I am very conscientious of what I put on my family table when it comes to dinner time. However, as a stubborn and determined woman who fought her way out of morbid obesity through clean eating and proper portions, I refuse to sacrifice enjoying flavorful meals.
Enter this easy, healthy pasta salad. Did you say PASTA!? Yes, pasta! My life is about balance, not restriction; living more, not less. That means making healthy choices when it comes to what type of pasta you choose, as well as having a reasonable portion size when you serve it up.
For this recipe, I used a whole grain rotini pasta easily found in your local grocery store. I’m also a big fan of brown rice noodles and quinoa pasta as well. Here’s what you’ll need to make the base of this pasta side dish, perfect alongside a lean protein for that summer barbecue dinner.
4 cups of cooked whole grain pasta
4 cups chopped fresh spinach
2 cups chopped cherry/heirloom tomatoes
1/2 can chopped black olives
1/4 cups chopped fresh parsley
After you mix those together in a bowl, you can toss in 1/4 cup of a light Italian dressing. Here’s one of my favorites if you want to make a batch from scratch. I love to make up a few different flavors and store it in a mason jar in the fridge to use on salads and wraps. Just because it’s clean doesn’t mean it has to be bland!
We all know that barbecue isn’t something that is traditionally associated with healthy eating. As a woman who has also struggled with her weight, I am very conscientious of what I put on my family table when it comes to dinner time. However, as a stubborn and determined woman who fought her way out of morbid obesity through clean eating and proper portions, I refuse to sacrifice enjoying flavorful meals.
Enter this easy, healthy pasta salad. Did you say PASTA!? Yes, pasta! My life is about balance, not restriction; living more, not less. That means making healthy choices when it comes to what type of pasta you choose, as well as having a reasonable portion size when you serve it up.
For this recipe, I used a whole grain rotini pasta easily found in your local grocery store. I’m also a big fan of brown rice noodles and quinoa pasta as well. Here’s what you’ll need to make the base of this pasta side dish, perfect alongside a lean protein for that summer barbecue dinner.
4 cups of cooked whole grain pasta
4 cups chopped fresh spinach
2 cups chopped cherry/heirloom tomatoes
1/2 can chopped black olives
1/4 cups chopped fresh parsley
After you mix those together in a bowl, you can toss in 1/4 cup of a light Italian dressing. Here’s one of my favorites if you want to make a batch from scratch. I love to make up a few different flavors and store it in a mason jar in the fridge to use on salads and wraps. Just because it’s clean doesn’t mean it has to be bland!
Here’s how to make a batch of this amazing Greek vinaigrette dressing:
8 T extra virgin olive oil
4 T red wine vinegar
4 T Dijon mustard
1/8 c. chopped oregano
1 T minced garlic
2 Pinches of pink Himalayan sea salt
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
I’d love to hear what you think of these recipes and tips if you try them out. As always, if you need help on your fitness journey, I always have online support and challenge groups running! Just reach out! Live healthy, live happy, Amanda
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