Healthy Recipes with Vegetable Noodles (2024)

FAQs

Are vegetable noodles healthy? ›

Veggie noodles, such as zucchini noodles, sweet potato noodles, or carrot noodles, can be a healthy and nutritious alternative to regular noodles. They are typically lower in calories, higher in fiber, and provide more vitamins and minerals than traditional noodles made from refined grains.

Veggie options like zucchini and spaghetti squash make noodles exciting. Low in calories yet rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre; veggie noodles add balance to your diet. Switching to veggie noodles can support weight loss. They promote a feeling of fullness.

Veggie Noodles

Nutrition will vary depending on the vegetable you use—you'll usually save calories and carbohydrates compared to traditional noodles. Since most of us don't eat enough vegetables, using them as a noodle swap can be a creative way to get more into your diet.

In addition to whole wheat pasta, pasta made from other ingredients such as chickpeas, lentils, and veggies are great options when you are on a diet. Non-traditional pasta like these are generally lower in carbohydrates and calories while having higher protein content.

Whole Wheat Pasta vs White Pasta

Whole wheat pasta has a higher fiber and nutrient content than refined, white pasta. Here's why: There are three parts of a grain: the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. The bran and the germ contain fiber, healthy fats and vitamins. The endosperm is mostly just starch.

Vegetable noodles are the best

Fresh vegetables used in the place of noodles are clearly the healthiest option. One popular way to make veggies like sweet potato, cucumber or zucchini look like noodles is to spiralize them, or use a machine to slice them into long, curly strands.

Beans, lentils, edamame, and chickpeas can be counted as either vegetables or protein sources. So it's no surprise that pastas made with any one of these are packed with protein. “They really do pack a nice nutritional punch when compared with other pasta varietals,” Romano says.

Zucchini – Zucchini noodles, or “zoodles,” have grown fast in popularity with good reason — their mild flavor and slightly firmer texture than spaghetti squash makes a perfect base for all sauces, including cream-based ones like alfredo.

What can I add to noodles to make them healthier? ›

You can add anything you have in your kitchen. My favourites are carrots, capsic*ms, baby corn, spinach, mushrooms, pumpkin, broccoli, sweet potato, kale, zucchini…

This largely depends on the type of noodle and how it's prepared. Some types of Asian noodles, such as soba and udon noodles made from whole grains, can provide a good source of fibre and nutrients. However, other types of noodles, like ramen and rice noodles, may be less nutritious and higher in carbohydrates.

It's known for its soft, springy texture and is often boiled before being used in dishes. Udon has a neutral flavor, absorbing the tastes of broths or sauces, and is lower in calories and fat compared to Lo Mein.

Vermicelli noodles, also known as rice vermicelli or rice sticks, are generally considered a healthier noodle option compared to many other types of noodles. Vermicelli noodles are typically made from rice flour, making them naturally gluten-free.

Since they're made of veggies, they're a great source of fiber and important vitamins and minerals to add to your meals. I recommend pairing veggie noodles with a good protein source and a carb source so that you can be satisfied after your meal.

Veggie noodles are fresh, low in natural carbohydrates, gluten-free, and packed with nutrition. Here is everything you need to know about swapping out pasta for vegetables!