Spaghetti squash has gotten a lot of recent attention due to its ability to look like spaghetti, but has a low calorie and carbohydrate count. This is especially nice on the nights you want to make spaghetti and meatballs, but are forced to forego the spaghetti due to diet restrictions. When I bought my first spaghetti squash, I was unsure of how to prepare it and cook it to perfection. It is a rather simple process by cutting the squash in half and drizzling it with olive oil and sea salt. You then can place it in the oven and bake it for about an hour at 400 degrees F. Once the squash is cooked, you can scoop out the flesh which essentially resembles spaghetti pasta, and has a lot less calories!
The Health Benefits To Eating Spaghetti Squash
This nutritious vegetable is loaded with B Vitamins, niacin, and thiamin just to name a few key players. It also contains high levels of zinc, manganese, and calcium which aid in healthy cellular and tissue function. There is a large difference in calories between 1 cup of spaghetti squash (42 calories) and 1 cup of pasta (200 calories). This small fact is enough of a health benefit to convince me to make the switch permanently. While they do not taste exactly the same, their consistency is rather similar (1).
According to the Science of Eating, “It only has 10 grams of total carbs, which is 1/4 the amount you get from pasta. You’ll also get 9% of the recommended daily intake of dietary fiber, also delivering a range of nutrients, including vitamins C and A, Potassium & Calcium. Spaghetti squash contains a fair amount of fiber, with 2.2 g, or 9 percent of the RDI, per 1-cup serving. Fiber also helps with weight reduction as it makes you feel fuller longer.” (2).
The awesome vegetable also aids in cardiovascular health due to its potassium levels. It can also help lower blood pressure with its different vitamins and minerals such as folate and omega 3 properties. Overall, there are many different benefits you will get when consuming a simple spaghetti squash for dinner instead of refined white carbohydrates from pasta. It can also be stored easily in the fridge for healthy meals on the go!
The Buzz
Spaghetti squash can be added to soups, stews, or be the main course of the meal which makes it very versatile. This trendy yet delicious food has become all the rage in many healthy recipes to date. A great new recipe: The Turkey Taco Spaghetti Squash dish new to the PS1000 lineup is a perfect way to try your hand at preparing this delicious vegetable. Whether you are making it for the whole family, or just for yourself at lunch it is a surefire way you are getting nutrients at a more beneficial level. Did I mention this amazing food tastes fantastic just by itself? If there is no time for a fancy meal, then simply just bake it ahead of time with some olive oil and sea salt and reap the benefits!
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