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It's the ultimate Italian comfort food. That means it's bad for you, right? Not so. Here's five tips for making an ooey gooey lasagna you can feel good about.
Go Halfsies on the Meat
Swap out at least half of the beef or sausage with a leaner option, such as ground turkey breast or lean ground turkey sausage. For a vegetarian option, try using mushrooms instead of meat in your sauce.
Bump Up the Fiber
Fiber is good for more than just keeping you full and keeping your gut healthy. It also helps regulate your blood pressure. A simple way to add fiber to your diet is to eat more whole grains. Look for 100% whole grain or whole wheat lasagna noodles.
Pick a Vegetable, Any Vegetable
The beauty of lasagna is that it can hold a variety of nutritious vegetables while still being an ooey gooey comfort food. Try adding zucchini, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach to your next lasagna.
What You Should Know About Cheese
By using a bold flavored cheese, you can get away with using less. Fresh grated Parmigiano Reggianio has a robust, nutty flavor, so a little goes a long way. Round this out with part-skim mozzarella or low-fat ricotta and low-fat cottage cheeses instead of their full-fat counterparts.
Beware of Hidden Salt
Use spices and fresh or dried herbs such as basil and oregano instead of salt. If your recipe calls for canned tomatoes or sauces, look for low-sodium or no salt added versions. Also, keep in mind that most cheeses contain high amounts of salt. Opting for low sodium cottage cheese or using ricotta cheese instead (which typically has less salt than cottage cheese) will help reduce the overall sodium.
