Though some pastas are packed full of bad carbohydrates, there are many healthy alternatives to fattening pasta dishes. These simple to prepare recipes can be quite healthful, too!

Classic Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is probably one of the last things you would expect to eat while dieting, but this simple recipe demonstrates how to turn the childhood favorite into a healthy adult meal. Using fat-free milk and low-fat cheese, this delicious comfort food contains only 200 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Mushroom Penne
A mushroom-lover’s dish straight out of a gourmet restaurant, this healthy pasta will impress even the pickiest dinner guests. It contains only a few household ingredients as well, using chicken broth, red wine and, of course, mushrooms to give it its warm and savory flavor.

Turkey Bolognese With Shell Pasta
This unique pasta dish uses turkey in place of the usual beef Bolognese. The anise gives the turkey a taste similar to that of sausage, without the saturated fat, while the red wine and garlic add hearty Italian flavor without adding excess calories.

For more heart-healthy pasta recipes, visit the NIH website here.

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Cutting meat out of your diet is an admirably healthy choice, but it can be difficult to find meatless recipes. If you’re growing bored of standard tofu, these exciting vegetarian recipes will help you mix things up.

Caribbean Casserole
Full of spicy, tropical flavors, this Caribbean Casserole is a unique alternative to regular vegetarian dishes. Though many Caribbean recipes include meats like jerk chicken, this one contains no meat and gets its protein from flavorful black beans.

Lentils With Brown Rice and Kale
Kale is a superfood beloved for its numerous health benefits, and it has become a staple in many vegetarians’ diets. This hearty recipe combines kale with protein-rich lentils and flavorful onions, and then places them over brown rice to create a nutritious and filling meal. With 21 grams of protein and only 9 grams of fat, this dish provides vegetarians with everything they’re missing from not eating meat in a much leaner way.

Three-Bean Chili With Chunky Tomatoes
It may seem impossible to eat chili as a vegetarian, but this completely meatless recipe is an almost indistinguishable alternative. The protein-packed blend of three different types of beans makes a sturdy base, while the variety of spices gives this dish the zesty flavor that you love from a good chili.

To browse even more healthy vegetarian recipes, check out the NIH website here.

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