Traditional Alfredo sauce is made using lots of butter, heavy cream, and cheese. As such, it is very high in fat and calories, so many people look for healthier alternatives.
What makes the dish so unhealthy for you?
The heavy cream is highly fattening, and since you need so much of it to produce a quality sauce, many people shy away from making the pasta dish on their own. Many people believe margarine is a viable substitute for butter because it's healthier, but, it's full of hydrogenated fats and oils. These hydrogenated fats and oils are not better for you and your body than natural butter does. The cheese, traditionally Parmesan, is not too bad for you, but in the high amounts used to make the sauce, can quickly pack on the calories.
How can you make Alfredo healthier?
There are three main ways you can make an Alfredo sauce healthier for you: use real butter, substitute heavy cream for half and half, and opt for a reduced fat version of the cheese. In place of Parmesan, you can also use mozzarella. Though the real butter has a bad wrap, since it's lacking of the hydrogenated fats and oils, it is actually better for your body. The half and half is a mixture of cream and milk, so there are fewer calories and much less fat. Using a reduced fat version of the cheese also cuts down on fat and calories.
If you want to take it one step further, instead of using a semolina based pasta, look for a whole wheat pasta. This way you still get the pasta goodness, but you're getting more nutrition from the pasta itself.
Don't forget to serve with steamed broccoli for an extra kick. Add grilled chicken for a complete meal in a bowl.
Lucinda Watrous is a freelance SEO article writer and WordPress website designer. She is also a die hard foodie, married to an aspiring culinary extraordinaire. Visit her blog at: http://itsfoodtastic.com
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