Let’s face it – some of the traditional family meals, such as spaghetti and marinara, get a bad wrap for a few reasons:
1) They are no longer truly homemade – they are artificially laced ingredients from a jar, and over processed wheat from a box.
2) Even when homemade with love, they still aren’t always healthy – pasta from wheat flour (even whole!) can cause tummy aches, some can spike blood sugar levels, and they can leave you overly full and bloated.
But it doesn’t always have to be unhealthy or make you feel guilty. In fact, you should NEVER feel guilty about food – just make food that you know is good for you, that you’ll love to eat, and that doesn’t take a ton of stress or time. Even with a traditional, homemade dish like Spaghetti and Marinara.You can make an easy sauce (inspired from the Crazy, Sexy Diet book) and even a healthier, veggie loaded version of pasta that will leave you full and satisfied in a healthier way.
Healthy Homemade Spaghetti and Marinara:
1 spaghetti squash
1 red bell pepper
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
4 roma tomatoes
2 tsp dried basil leaves
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp garlic powder/1 clove garlic
sea salt to taste (1/2 tsp or so)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Slice spaghetti squash in half and remove seeds. Place in a roasting dish, face down with a thin layer of water. Roast for 30-40 minutes, until slightly soft.
While roasting, blend together the pepper, roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, spices, and salt. Heat olive oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Add the sauce and heat until warm.
Once squash is roasted, scrape the inside to remove, making it into noodle-like spaghetti. Scoop into a plate and top with marinara.
Easy, healthy, and delicious homemade “spaghetti and marinara”.
Peace and Love,
Jessi
