Have you jumped on the spiralizer bandwagon yet? There are plenty of good – and especially healthy – reasons to join the vegetable noodle trend!
What is it?
If you haven’t heard of spiralizing, don’t worry, it’s simple to explain. A bunch of handy tools have popped up that help you turn vegetables into pasta-like strands, like this:
You may often hear them referred to as “zoodles,” as one of the most common vegetables used is zucchini. They can be used in place of regular pasta, in salads or basically any way you can imagine.
Why You Should Do It
So, what’s so great about the zany zoodle trend? Well, a lot, actually. And at the root of it all is helping you to eat more veggies. Let’s look at some specifics.
- It’s fun! Who doesn’t love a new gadget? Getting a spiralizer can help change things up and make veggies a little more exciting again.
- It’s kid-friendly. It’s definitely a great way to get kids involved in meal prep and convince them to eat their vegetables.
- It’s low-carb. If you’re dieting, diabetic or looking to lighten up some meals, swapping typical pasta for veggie noodles is a great idea. You’ll save a lot of carbs and calories, all while gaining important nutrients.
- It’s specialty-diet approved! No matter what diet you follow, healthy veggies are sure to fit in. If you’re paleo or gluten-intolerant, these faux noodles let you have the pasta experience without the wheat. Have food allergies or trying to cook for someone who does? Noodles made from veggies are practically 100% guaranteed to be free of any contact with soy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, yeast or other common allergens.
- It’s nutrient-dense. Let’s face it. Pasta may be tasty, but it’s not terribly nutritious. Sure, it’s not full of saturated fat or sugar, but it’s also not full of the important vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants found in many vegetables.
Giving It a Try
While the most common vegetable on the spiralizer scene seems to be zucchini, there are lots of veggies you can spiralize! Try carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, cucumbers, different types of squash and more! You could even get creative with firm fruits like apples and pears.
Some spiralizers give you the option of making spaghetti-like noodles or wider pappardelle-type noodles, giving you even more ways to try out this trend.
Already a dedicated spiralizer? Share your favorite recipes and tricks with us!
