THE 300 CALORIE PASTA LUNCH

THE 300 CALORIE PASTA LUNCH
(OK, may be closer to 310 calories)

Well, they said it would happen, and it finally did...my metabolism seems to have slooooowed down.  Gone are the days of piling noodles high on a plate with all manner of sauces and cheese and whatnot.  Gotta start cutting the calories, but I'm definitely not cutting the flavor.  So, without further ado, my first calorie-conscious recipe..

Ingredients:
(Serves 2)

1 1/2 cups dry Trader Joe's Brown Rice Fusilli
Splash of olive oil
1/8 cup Trader Joe's Basil Pesto Sauce
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
2 dried red chili peppers, chopped or torn into small bits
2 fresh basil leaves, cut or torn into small bits
2 medium tomatoes (I like Campari from Costco), chopped
Shake of black pepper
Shake of garlic powder

Directions:

1.  Bring pot of water to a boil, adding a splash of olive oil.
2.  Add pasta, stir, cook for 7 minutes stirring frequently to unstick pieces.
3.  Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
4.  Place pesto in pot and stir in pasta.
5.  Split evenly between two plates and sprinkle each with 1 Tbsp. cheese, pepper, garlic powder, 1 tomato, 1 chili pepper, and 1 basil leaf.

Notes:

*Pair with a low-ish calorie protein for a complete dinner meal.

*To be honest, this alone is not likely to fill you up (unless you have a remarkably small tank!).  But it gives you the chance to have some of what you really want (pasta!  pesto!  cheese!) and then supplement with a piece of fruit or vegetable (spinach is an easy, healthy and low-cal choice) and still stay under a respectable 400 calories.

*Kids can rinse the pasta, stir the pesto, or tear the basil.