PERFECT PASTA PICKS

Do you fancy an Italian dish tonight? Here's how to make this tasty comfort food that little bit healthier...

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Think you have to cut out pasta for a healthy diet? Think again. This family favourite can fill you up, prevent snacking and combine carbs, protein and vitamin-rich vegetables to give you an all-round nutritional hit. And the best bit? You can rustle up a bowlful for under £1 per portion. Here's how to reboot this popular mid-week dish.

Get carb-clever

Whether you want to balance blood sugars, fill up on protein or increase your vitamins, there's a pasta type for you...

WHOLEMEAL

Contains almost three times as much fibre (good for gut health) as white durum wheat pasta, plus more vitamins and fewer calories.

VEGGIE

Want to up your five-a-day count? Swap wheat spaghetti for beetroot or courgette noodles. A spiraliser can turn the vegetables sitting in your fridge drawer into ready-to-cook spaghetti.

BUCKWHEAT

This gluten-free option is rich in heart-healthy nutrients, including magnesium and fibre, as well as plant compounds rutin and quercetin, which can help circulation and ease arthritis.

PROTEIN