I’ve been listening to folks talk about how they have put on weight over the last year during the pandemic, and my husband and I are certainly no exception. I mean, it’s been a very stressful time and there’s nothing more comforting than eating treats, especially when we can’t leave the house 😖. About half way through January we finally said to ourselves, “NO MORE PIE!”

Welcome to “Redhead’s Light & Easy Spaghetti Dishes for Two” which is focused on helping couples (or individuals) cook light & easy pasta dishes at home without a lot of fuss, or calories. I promise all of the recipes are extremely simple, and I’m not into weird ingredients 😆. I’m sharing #1 today and I’m calling it “Oil & Cheese Spaghetti for Two”.

The History Behind Redhead’s Light & Easy Spaghetti Dishes for Two

If you follow along here at redheadcandecorate.com and are a subscriber to my weekly newsletter, you already know that I struggle with weight loss every year. This past year has been a bit more frustrating because right before the pandemic hit I had a mini-tummy tuck and lipo on my 20 year old cesarean “pouch”. I was in good shape weight wise, on my way to being exactly where I wanted to be, and BOOM. PANDEMIC EATING HIT 😖. Did you start over-eating, too? See all the high calorie recipes I was making then HERE.

About 1/2 way through this past January 2021, Rick and I were both at our heaviest weight ever (except when I was pregnant). We had a talk, and decided lowering our calories, and increasing our calorie burn, is the way we wanted to get the weight off. Through the process, one of the easiest ways I found to reduce calories is by measuring our pasta servings. Yep, it’s true!

Oil & Cheese Spaghetti for Two

The struggle is real when making a tasty pasta dish for two (or one). I always seem to add in way too much pasta (I usually do the entire box and eat what I feel like 😖) and that is a ton of calories I don’t want or need.

This new “Light & Easy Spaghetti” series removes the guess work out of portion control, and shows how simple it can be to make a yummy pasta dish without all the extra calories. I have literally done all the testing for you, and these quick satisfying recipes should be enough to feed 2 adults, or 1 adult twice (you can always double it for 4 guests, too).

*** Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.  Read full disclosure policy here.

Before I explain how easy it is to measure the pasta, I need to tell you what brand I use, and why. Ronzoni Smart Taste Spaghetti has 180 calories per serving, which is 20 calories less than most other pastas. It’s also loaded with protein, fiber, and vitamin D (this is not a sponsored post just me sharing my secrets). It also tastes fantastic, and cooks perfectly to al dente!

Measuring Pasta for Light & Easy Spaghetti Dishes for Two

Here’s one of the best tips I have EVER WRITTEN pertaining to weight loss. Start measuring your food so you know you aren’t exceeding the serving sizes you desire. After 3 months of measuring our pastas, baked potatoes, meats, breads, etc. my husband and I have lost a total of 27 pounds. This food scale was actually a gift to me from my family last Christmas and I can’t believe I have gone so long without one. Below you will see how much spaghetti I actually use for this recipe (two 3 ounce servings used and photoed below) .

After you measure the pasta, you will have time to prepare the remaining ingredients. I should mention that I also reduced the amount of oil I usually use which dramatically cuts calories. I also use additional ingredients that are naturally low in calories.

I’m going to sum the benefits for you below, so you can get to trying “Redhead’s Light & Easy Oil & Cheese Spaghetti for Two” maybe even tonight. Stay tuned for recipe #2 coming soon…

Here’s All the Benefits from Redhead’s Light & Easy Spaghetti Dishes

• These spaghetti dishes taste fantastic, and are satisfying.
• I have done all the leg work for you for these delicious recipes through testing/measuring in my own kitchen with my own husband 😊.
• You will save money using what you have in your fridge for these yummy spaghetti dishes.
• Huge time savers during a busy work week.
• You won’t get overly full with these dishes and crash like you might if you over eat pasta like I was doing.
• It only takes one skillet. Clean-up is quick.
• Heart healthy.
• Very low calorie at 225 calories per serving which will help weight loss.
• Happy people.

Oil & Cheese Spaghetti for Two Recipe

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Yield: 2

Oil & Cheese Spaghetti

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Simple al dente spaghetti dish (for two or double for more) made with olive oil, lemon, garlic, spinach, mushrooms, and cheese. Very filling, and tasty, yet surprisingly low in calories!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 ounces Ronzoni Smart Taste Spaghetti (it has fewer calories, and higher protein than most)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 handfuls fresh spinach (more if you prefer)
• 5 big mushrooms sliced
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• splash of reserved pasta water or chicken stock
• salt & pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese (sprinkle on top)

Instructions

1. In a large non-stick skillet (one that can boil pasta in) fill with 2 inches of salted water and bring to a boil.
2. While waiting for the pasta to cook (al dente-so go 1 minute under what box recommends) prepare your garlic & mushrooms.
3. Strain pasta, but do not rinse, and set aside (reserve a little pasta water on the side to add later for a more slippery textured pasta).
4. Add olive oil to same pan and saute the garlic & mushrooms lightly for 3 minutes.
5. Add the hot pasta back in to the pan, and add in the lemon juice & spinach. Toss in heated pan with a little salt & pepper to taste. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water or chicken stock so it doesn't get sticky and has a more slippery texture.
6. Serve in a pasta bowl and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan.
7. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 225Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 2mgSodium 244mgCarbohydrates 31gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 3gSugar 2gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 8g

How I Lost Weight After 50

271 Calorie Pizza for One