One of the things I miss the most when eating healthy is pasta! So, I finally decided to incorporate my love for pasta into healthy dish and started loving the concept of pasta salads! The whole foods orzo spinach salad recipe became a quick favorite given how light and delicious it is.
But eating store-bought salad isn’t a sustainable idea or an affordable one at that. So I decided to experiment a little and come up with my own delicious version of the recipe.
Here’s my take on the whole foods orzo spinach salad recipe, enjoy!
Whole Foods Orzo Spinach Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups orzo pasta
- 5 tbsp olive oil extra virgin preferred
- 1/4 cup red onion chopped
- 1/4 cup black olives chopped
- 2 cups spinach chopped
- 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 5 leaves basil chopped
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar or these substitutes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil your orzo pasta according to package instructions
- Once boiling, immediately wash your orzo pasta with cold water
- Once washed, drain all excess water from the orzo
- Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl
- Add 3tbsp olive oil to the pasta immediately and stir to prevent clumping
- In a saucepan, add 2tbsp olive oil and bring to medium heat
- Add your spinach and basil leaves and cook for about 2-3 minutes, until wilted
- Turn off the stove and let it cool
- Once cool, add to a serving bowl
- Add the chopped olives, onions and feta crumbles to the same bowl
- Now add the rice vinegar, salt, and pepper to the bowl
- Add your orzo
- Stir to combine, add more olive oil if needed
- Enjoy!
And that’s pretty much it. A quick and healthy meal to munch on while watching your favorite TV show.
But what if I tell you, carbs aren’t entirely bad for you! You just need to balance them with plenty of healthy nutrients and portion control your meals to make sure you stay within healthy limits. Although, there is nothing wrong with indulging from time to time. Using olive oil also makes this a healthy option!
More Meal Prep Ideas
At yogi nutrition, we strongly believe that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring or bland. It can be equally delicious and healthy if you cook it just right. This is why we have come up with some healthy yet delicious pasta recipes, so you can enjoy those carbs without the guilt! Here are some we love:
- Vegan Cavatappi Pasta with Tomatoes and Spinach
- Pasta Fagioli
- Brown Rice Pasta with Broccoli and Kale
- Chipotle Quinoa and Black Bean Pasta Salad
- Roasted Garlic and White Wine Alfredo Pasta
See? That’s how creative you can get with healthy recipes!
Not all our recipes are vegan, but we try to incorporate veganism into our lifestyle to maintain a healthy balance. After all, there are both advantages and disadvantages to being a vegetarian.
However, if you’re interested, here are some tips to be a vegetarian within a budget.
Why You Shouldn’t Cut Out Carbs From Your Diet Completely
Like I said above, I don’t believe that carbs are entirely bad for you. I don’t think a diet that completely cuts out carbs from your meals is a sustainable way of healthy eating. While the fad diets that restrict carbs might show quick results, they aren’t always the best for your body.
Here are some reasons why you should make carbs a part of your balanced meals:
- Glucose, a form of carbohydrate, is the main source of energy for our body and it’s the only source of energy used by our brain. Running low on carbs can lead to low energy levels, and rarely, brain damage.
- Fiber is also a form of carbohydrate that might not give us much energy but it’s super important to maintain a healthy gut. Fiber is also important to prevent gut problems like constipation
- Complex carbs, such as those you get from peas, whole grains, and vegetables help you keep you full for longer and curb hunger levels. This prevents you from unhealthy snacking
- Certain sources of carbs such as whole grains contain important nutrients such as Folate, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B3, all of which have important functions in different parts of our bodies. Cutting out these carbs could possibly mean that you’re not getting enough of those important nutrients.
- Natural carbs such as those found in fruits and vegetables often contain antioxidants that prevent free radical damage within our bodies, keeping us healthy from within.
Carbohydrates or carbs have grown to have a bad reputation mainly because of their processed variants. Those are the ones you need to look out for and limit consumption.
Normally, the USDA recommends 45-65% of your daily calories be from carbs!