Are you in love with lip smacking Italian delicacies? The very thought of delicious Italian dishes conjure up the images of creamy pasta preparation topped with melted cheese or mouth-watering lasagne filled with meat and cheese. Rich toppings, cheese fillings and cream sauces are best compliment to adore delightful Italian preparations. No doubt these calorie-laden dishes taste delicious but sadly, they will also contribute to your waistline. Moreover, these delicacies are also not healthy food options. However, there is nothing to get upset because there are ways to limit calorie intake while you are dining at an Italian restaurant without compromising with the taste. Keep reading to find out few effective strategies that you can follow to keep check on your calorie count and still enjoy a
delicious Italian meal.
Select Pasta Sauces Wisely
It is not at all possible to think Italian cuisine without pasta dishes, as they are one of the most popular choices of Italian food lovers. Now, to choose a low- calorie pasta dish, choice of sauce is very important. Marsala, marinara or tomato-based sauces used in preparing pasta contain wine as a prime ingredient. Calorie count is remarkably lower in these choices of sauce than white, creamy sauces made of fatty milk, cheese and butter, like Alfredo sauce. You can also discard sauce and simply opt for pasta tossed in exotic Italian herbs, fresh garlic and olive oil. Whole grain pasta is always a good choice because it is rich in fibre. Whole grain pasta is quite filling and so, you are likely to have a small portion.
Make Healthy Pizza Choices
Pizza loaded with cheese, just cannot be a healthy option, but we still gorge on it. It is truly difficult to resist. So, how to lower down the calorie intake while ordering pizza? Thin crust pizzas are always better choices than the thicker crusts. Pizzas with thick crusts are rich in calorie. Choices of toppings also play a key role while choosing a less-fattening pizza. Pizza toppings like sausage or pepperoni are rich in fat. So they are not at all a healthy choice. Opt for raw or roasted vegetables instead of meats for a low-calorie option. Whole wheat crust pizza with veggie toppings is another healthy option to enjoy a delicious Italian meal.
Choose Antipasto with Care
Antipasto is the traditional first course of an Italian meal. An antipasto palate is a delightful combination of savoury bites of delicious food. Delightful antipasto dishes are mostly prepared with mushrooms, artichoke hearts or peppers, marinated in olive oil. You should know that one tablespoon of olive oil contributes 100 calories to your waistline. So before having the dish, it is best to dab off the extra oil with a piece of bread. Stop indulging in salami slices or cured meat and anything fried (fritto in Italian), as they are rich in fat and calorie. Prefer dishes that are steamed, grilled or baked.
Indulge in Healthy Soup Options
Soups served in Italian restaurants taste delicious. However, when you are looking for low-calorie option, you just cannot savour soups prepared with sausage or beef or based on meat broth. Creamy soups cooked with cheeses are also rich in calories. So, try soups based on vegetable broth like minestrone or eggplant, when you are looking for low-calorie option. Mushroom soup is also a healthy choice.
Do Not Skip Italian Salads
Do not skip Italian salads when you are dining in an Italian restaurant. Only watch the serving of dressings carefully, as they often contain too much fat or cheese. You can also opt for salad without dressing. You can make choice from bean salad, green vegetable salad or pasta salad. You will truly enjoy savouring Caesar salad. Only avoid the extra grated cheese.
If you are on a diet, it does not mean that you are not going to indulge in Italian delicacies. You just need to make the choices of dishes sensibly. So, visit an authentic Italian restaurant serving healthy dishes and enjoy a good Italian meal.
Bowman:
Hello Friends! I am Jason Bowman (currently living in Manchester, UK), a big foodie and love to attend grand dinners. I visit various restaurants often and found a number of well-known Italian restaurants in Manchester serving a delightful variety of low-calorie Italian delicacies. The dishes are healthy, at the same time delicious. So, if you are a diet freak, read this article where I have shared some valuable information on choosing low-calorie dishes and eating healthily at an Italian restaurant.
