Self-Care: Sufficient Substitutes

Italian food is one of my favorites, but a lot of Italian food dishes have too many carbs for me to consider them healthy. Instead of avoiding Italian food altogether, I like to think of ways that I can substitute pasta for a healthier, lighter alternative.

One meal idea that is always delicious is a twist on spaghetti and meatballs. I make turkey meatball sauce on top of spaghetti squash, paired with a salad and even a piece of garlic bread when I’m feeling dangerous. This meal is also great, because it’s quick and easy to make.

Healthy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey

3 jars of spaghetti sauce

1 large spaghetti squash

3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. In the morning, put two-and-a-half jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce in the crock pot. Put aside half a cup of sauce for the meatballs.

2. In a separate bowl, mix together the ground turkey, Italian bread crumbs and ½ of cup of the sauce.

3. Roll the meat and sauce mixture it into small meatballs and thoroughly cook the meatballs on the stove.

4. Place meatballs into the slow cooker with the sauce, and cook it on low until dinner time. I like to add extra garlic to my sauce and maybe a little basil.

5. One hour before dinner, wash and cut a spaghetti squash in half, and clean out the seeds.

6. Rub the squash with olive oil, top with a little salt and pepper, and cook it face down on a cookie sheet in oven at 375 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, depending on size. When it is done scrape out with fork, place and plate and cover with sauce and meatballs. Enjoy

Healthy, delicious food is just one way to take care of your body and mind. Are you curious about more ways to practice self-care? If so, find more tips here.