After receiving my PCOS diagnosis and being told I was pre-diabetic, I embarked on a gluten free, low-carb journey. That meant that the traditional pasta I was used to eating two or three times a week had to do...and that was hard!
If you aren't sure why you should ditch the gluten, be sure to read my blog post here.
I first transitioned over to zoodles. If you don't know what those are, they are basically julienned zucchini.
Truth be told, I never really liked them. At the time, there weren't many alternatives, so I just cut the "pasta" from my diet for many years.
Thankfully, things are changing and there are now several options available for those wanting a gluten free pasta.
Let's review some of the main options and I will give you my thoughts...and let you know what my favourite is!
1. Gluten Free Pasta - While this is better option than traditional, gluten containing pasta, it isn't something I use or recommend. Why?
Well, it is often made from high carbohydrate flours, like rice and potato, that still mess with blood sugar (a big no no if you have PCOS or adrenal issues) and can be inflammatory.
The other issue is that there isn't really any nutritional value in these noodles.
I say ditch them.
2. Pulse Pasta - Now you may be thinking, what the heck is that?!
Well, it is exactly what the name suggests...pasta made from pulses. San Remo has a few options made from lentils, chickpeas, borlotti beans and/or peas.
The really good thing about these is that there is literally nothing else in them. That means you are getting some protein, as legumes macro content are 1/3 protein as well as fibre!
The other great thing is that they are naturally gluten free, but aren't inflammatory...for most.
I do not recommend this pasta if you have an autoimmune condition as many people with these conditions need to avoid legumes/pulses.
I also do not recommend this pasta is you have PCOS, an oestrogen dominant condition (like endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids), adrenal and/or blood sugar issues given it has a high carbohydrate content, given legumes macro content are 2/3 carbohydrate.
If, however, you don't have any of these problems, but want a healthier GF pasta alternative, then pulse pasta is a great option!
3. Zoodles - As stated, these are made from just zucchini.
That means they are low carb and you are going to get fibre and a range of other nutrients.
Definitely a great option for those needing or wanting a low carb option. I just personally don't like the taste.
4. Sweet Potato Noodles - These are the same as zucchini noodles, just made from sweet potato.
So again, you are going to get great fibre and nutrient content and there won't be any funky inflammatory or hidden ingredients.
I simply don't recommend if you need to follow a low-carb diet.
5. Konjac Noodles - These are my absolutely favourite!
They are made from an Asian vegetable, called konjac, and water. That's it!
They are super low carb and low calorie (although I am not particularly concerned about the calorie content).
The taste and the texture of the konjac noodles are great. Better than zoodles in my opinion!
You can find these noodles in many shops now. The IGA sells them in their Asian food section.
I buy mine from Coles. There is a brand, Slendier, that does both spaghetti and fettuccini noodles. They also do "rice", but I am not sure I like the texture of that to be honest.
While I use both the spaghetti and the fettuccini noodles, I tend to use more of the fettuccini as the texture is the best. They pair perfectly with Bolognese sauce or a dairy free Alfredo sauce. Yummo!
I have absolutely been loving this option as it means I can now enjoy my pasta once a week and have the leftovers the next day...without worrying about the impact it is having on my hormones.
Have you tried any of these pasta options?
Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what is your favourite!
