Pasta Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula

This meal is so super easy I just had to share it with you. But I warn you it has a dreaded red light item in it - GOATS CHEESE. On the good side it is made with whole wheat pasta, nutricious spinach, red onions, and white kidney beans - all of which are allowed on the GI diet
Basically you take some cooked pasta and toss it with the remaining ingredients. I actually enjoy eating this meal warm for dinner and then eat it cold the next day for lunch. Below is the recipe. Try it out if you are allowing yourself a small splurge.

Pasta Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula


SERVED WITH: This is a full meal all on its own.

COOKING TIPS: It is so easy to make, just throw it all together, mix and serve.

RATING: A 9 for flavour, but only a 6 if you consider the red light item in it.

Spinach and Meatball Soup

For a soup this was quite delicious. The soup broth and the mini meatballs are flavoured with cumin so I find I have to be in the mood for a dish such as this. By adding in some white kidney beans this soup becomes quite hearty. As the recipe suggested we ate ours with a dollop of yogurt cheese stirred right in. This gave the soup a creamy texture even though is was made with chicken broth. It may not be the most attractive looking soup but its flavour made up for its appearance.

SERVED WITH: A slice of whole grain toast and a glass of water

COOKING TIPS: Before I made this soup I just assumed I would cook the meatballs before putting them in the soup but that is not the case. You simply throw the meatballs into the broth and let it simmer for 20 minutes. By then your mini meatballs will be cooked all the way through.

RATING: A solid 8 as long as you are in the mood for Indian flavorings.

Tuna Salad

This tuna salad reminds me of my honeymoon in Italy. It is absolutely incredible! It is not the traditional heavy tuna salad that is loaded down with fatty mayonnaise. Surprisingly, mashed up white kidney beans are used in place of the mayo to bind all the ingredients together.

SERVED WITH: I toasted a piece of whole wheat bread and top it with the tuna salad. I served it open faced with a side salad. If you are looking for a brand of wholewheat or whole grain bread that is tasty and not full of sugar check out the Sha Sha bread company. This company uses sprouted grains (no yeast in these breads) and a mixture of whole grains to create a variety of delicious breads. Once you get used to eating this type of bread you will never go back to any other brand. I find all other bread way to sugary now.

COOKING TIPS: If you are making this ahead of time (such as the night before for your lunch the next day) I recommend adding the chopped up tomato the day you plan on eating it.

RATING: 10. Yummy, filling and healthy, how could you go wrong!