Zucchini: More Versatile Than You Thought

Zucchini may appear to be bland and boring at first glance, but give it a chance and it can help you diet without feeling carb-deprived.

Last week, we used zucchini in 2 ways:
1. We created Zucchini Chips
2. We jazzed up our traditional Ragu and Spaghetti

How did we do it? Let's start with the Zucchini Chips.
*Set oven to bake on 450. Spray 1-2 cookie sheets with Pam non-stick spray. We used 1 long zucchini from a friends garden, sliced in (very thin) circles. In a large Ziploc bag, we tossed the zucchini circles with olive oil, paprika and dash of garlic salt. We then placed each individual zucchini circle on the cookie sheet and baked for 30 minutes. Next, we broiled the zucchini for about 8-10 minutes or until the top was slightly crisp (as pictured above). We enjoyed these chips with fresh marinara sauce (homemade).

To make zucchini spaghetti noodles:
You'll need 3-4 zucchini's. Cut off each end. Using a julienne peeler, rake the zucchini's length wise creating ribbons of noodles. In a pan, on medium heat, use 1 tsp. of olive oil to sauté the zucchini ribbons. *Remember: they have a decent amount of water naturally, so they'll steam a bit on their own. You won't need as much oil.* When ribbons are slightly crunchy but somewhat transparent, they are ready to be served with marinara and lean meat sauce. Buon appetito!

Both recipes are compliant to our Fast Track and Low Glycemic diets. We promote healthy living through nutrition and lifestyle changes! Do you live in Denver, Lakewood or Highlands Ranch? Are you looking for a healthy weight loss program? Schedule your free consultation today. No contracts. 720-874-0280 or 303-458-1551.