Italian Beef Pasta

The Italian Beef Pasta recipe I demonstrated tonight is one of my family’s favorites. The recipe original did not call for the two cups of fresh spinach. I am always trying to find ways to get my family to eat healthier. I added the spinach in this recipe to increase our daily fiber intake. Little to my surprise they loved it and now it is a recipe I fix often. Listed below are a few suggestions to help make your recipes more nutritious:

· In many baked goods such as muffins and cakes, try replacing half to all of the fat with unsweetened applesauce or low-fat yogurt.

· Use naturally lower-fat cheeses, such as mozzarella, in place of higher fat cheeses, such as Swiss or cheddar.

· Replace one-quarter of the sugar in cookies, bars and cakes with an equal amount of nonfat dry milk. This not only reduces calories but increases the calcium, protein and riboflavin in the food.

· Gradually reduce the amount of salt in a recipe each time you make it. By doing so, you will adjust to a less salty flavor over time.

· Add herbs and spices for flavor instead of salt.

· Choose garlic and onion powder rather than garlic and onion salt.

· Add extra vegetables to casseroles, soups, salads and other dishes.

· Add fruits to muffins, pancakes and desserts.

· Substitute whole-wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour when making breads, muffins, pancakes or other grain products.

· If you're preparing hamburgers or meatballs for dinner, consider replacing the crushed crackers with oatmeal instead. This will really help to boost the fiber content of the meal, as well as add a better source of complex carbohydrates.

The next time you prepare one of your family’s favorite recipe, try one of the suggestions listed above. Your family’s daily nutritional intake will be significantly increased. I hope your family enjoys this recipe.