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Carb Relief: Diet-Safe Bread & Pasta

Posted Wed, May 14, 2008, 11:17 am PDT
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Think watching your weight means giving up bowls of pasta, bread, sandwich buns, and wraps? Not if Hungry Girl has anything to say about it. Check out these lifesaving food finds...
 

USE YOUR NOODLE!
Enjoy these better-for-you pasta choices:
 
Tofu Shirataki
PER SERVING (4 ounces): 20 calories, 0.5g fat, 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g sugars, 1g protein

You really can't beat this swap (which comes in spaghetti, angel hair, and fettuccine versions) in terms of a low-calorie alternative to real pasta. It tastes amazingly good in low-fat cheese sauces, soups, stir-frys and casseroles. These "noodles" are more slippery than regular pasta, and you do have to drain, rinse and dry 'em very well before using (they come pre-cooked and in liquid). But it's worth it because an entire bag of Tofu Shirataki has just 40 calories. Insane! Click here to find these wonder noodles. 
 
FiberGourmet
PER SERVING (2 ounces uncooked): 120 - 130 calories, 1g fat, 120mg sodium, 43g carbs, 18 - 20g fiber, 2g sugars, 7g protein

 

This light, fiber-packed pasta is perfect for people who crave noodles that are as close to the real thing as you can get without all the extra calories. It cooks up like regular pasta and comes in a variety of flavors: classic, tomato, whole wheat, spinach, garlic parsley, and even chocolate (which doesn't really taste chocolatey at all)! They've got 40% fewer calories than traditional pasta, plus TONS of fiber. This stuff is definitely worth stocking up on (click here for more info).
 


BETTER-OFF BREAD
Sandwiches are your friends...

Sara Lee Delightful 100% Whole Wheat Made With Honey Bread

PER SERVING (1 slice): 45 calories, 0.5g fat, 115mg sodium, 9g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g sugars, 3g protein

 

This is our favorite light bread to hit store shelves. Sure it's low in calories and high in fiber but that wouldn't mean diddly if it didn't taste good. Well, not only are these slices delicious (hearty and a little bit sweet), but they're also fluffy. We LOVE this bread lots!
 
Other Options: While Sara's Delightful slices are off-the-charts great, there are MANY other tasty light breads with similar stats. Check out Weight Watchers breads (Multi-Grain and 100% Whole Wheat), Wonder Light breads (White, Wheat, Sourdough, and Italian), Nature's Own Light breads (Wheat, Honey Wheat, and Premium White), Arnold Bakery Light Wheat bread, and Pepperidge Farm Light Style (Oatmeal, 7 Grain and Wheat), and Very Thin (White & Wheat) sliced bread.
 

 
BUNS OF SQUEAL
Yep, these are worth getting giddy over:
 
Nature's Own Double Fiber Wheat Buns
PER SERVING (1 bun): 80 calories, 1.5g fat, 160mg sodium, 15g carbs, 5g fiber, 2g sugars, 6g protein
 
These fiber-packed buns are perfect for hot dogs and hamburgers! We recommend topping 'em with diet-friendly franks (like Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks, Yves Meatless Hot Dogs, and Ball Park Bun Size Smoked White Turkey Franks) and no-guilt burgers (like veggie burger patties by Boca, Morningstar Farms, Gardenburger and Amy's, Omega Foods Seafood Burgers, and Jennie-O Lean Turkey Burger Patties).
 
Pepperidge Farm Classic Whole Grain White Hamburger Buns and Hot Dog Buns
PER SERVING (1 bun): 100 - 110 calories, 1g fat, 190 - 220mg sodium, 18 - 21g carbs, 2g fiber, 2g sugars, 6g protein

 

High-fiber foods usually have fewer calories than stuff that's fiber-free. And while whole-wheat breads typically have lots of fiber and lower calorie counts, not everyone enjoys their full-on wheat-y taste. Enter Pepperidge Farm's Whole Grain White Buns. Made with whole wheat (so they contain some fiber and are decently low in calories like wheat buns), they're still a pretty light golden color and they taste like white buns.
 
Wonder Light Hot Dog and Hamburger Buns

PER SERVING (1 bun): 80 calories, 1g fat, 210mg sodium, 18g carbs, 4g fiber, 0g sugars, 4g protein
 
Undoubtedly, these are the best light buns in the biz (even though they're not easy to find). You can't go wrong with soft white buns for your frankfurters and burger patties. They're also great for creating guilt-free fast-food swaps for b-fast sandwiches, burgers and more. And they're from the Wonder company, the gurus of all things bready and delicious, so you KNOW you're getting that classic goodness that's been around for ages.
 


WRAP STARS
Flat and fabulous!
 
La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Tortillas Low Carb High Fiber (Original Soft Taco size)
PER SERVING (1 tortilla): 80 calories, 3g fat, 300mg sodium, 19g carbs, 14g fiber, 1g sugars, 8g protein

 

Don't buy into the hype that tortillas and wraps are always better than bread. Your average flour tortilla actually has around 300 calories! Well, we DARE you to find a tortilla as big and delicious as this one with so few calories (and if you do, let us know so we can tell the world of its existence!). There's also a smaller 50-calorie version that's awesome for snacking and small-sized recipes
 
More Tortilla Finds: There are a bunch of other tortillas out there with impressive nutritional stats. Look for Mission Carb Balance ones (Soft Taco Size) and Tumaro's Low in Carbs line and Healthy Flour line (the 8" ones).
 
For more guilt-free food finds, plus recipes, tips, tricks and MORE, visit hungry-girl.com and sign up for FREE daily emails.

For pasta sauce recipes and more click here.
 

Average (190 Ratings): 4 out of 5 stars

  • 1. Posted by girlbytheriver22 on Wed, May 14, 2008, 12:48 pm PDT

    ShopRite also carries there own brand of light hamburger buns and hotdog buns. They not only taste great, they are also easy on the wallet. Which is important with the way food prices are rising.

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  • 2. Posted by lynn c on Thu, May 15, 2008, 2:55 am PDT

    is this only in usa..what about canada?

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  • 3. Posted by lynn c on Thu, May 15, 2008, 2:55 am PDT

    is this only in usa..what about canada?

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  • 4. Posted by alioop84 on Thu, May 15, 2008, 6:44 am PDT

    yum! ty for helpful hints for a carb junkie ;)

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  • 5. Posted by conceptual_tea on Thu, May 15, 2008, 9:36 am PDT

    I love tofu shiritake noodles. I wish more stores carried them. I've only found them at Earth Fare and occasionally at my local Asian market. You can eat the whole package for 40 calories, but it's really too filling for that. I like them best in soup or stirfry. Since they are already cooked they are as fast as ramen! I don't know why another brand isn't make this stuff...

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  • 6. Posted by ashleybia799 on Thu, May 15, 2008, 12:49 pm PDT

    ha

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  • 7. Posted by Carol on Thu, May 15, 2008, 5:45 pm PDT

    seems like an aweful lot of sodium for just one wrap with nothing in it...

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  • 8. Posted by rlavarco on Fri, May 16, 2008, 1:29 am PDT

    The Sara Lee Delightful bread really is that good. I bought it from a grocery store in Northern, CA while I was on vacation...and couldn't believe how both tasty and heathly/low cal this bread was!! (Sometimes, high fiber/low calorie bread can taste like cardboard). Unfortunately, I have been searching desperately for this bread at my local groceries ever since I have returned home (I live in the DC area) and have not found any Sara Lee brand breads. I pray that they will get here eventually!

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  • 9. Posted by U can ask me to find that out on Sun, May 18, 2008, 7:46 am PDT

    Carbs are not the enemy. People are not well educated about this subject. The only reason the low carb diet works is because you loose a lot in the first few weeks. But this is all water weight. You need carbs for energy, and your body will eat away at your muscles and yes some fat to replace the carbs it usually uses. Enjoy your carbs in moderation. Make sure you buy whole wheat, and replace some of your fruit servings with vegetables.

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  • 10. Posted by Liz on Sun, May 18, 2008, 9:48 am PDT

    I tried Tofu Shirataki and despised the stuff (I HATE fish, and it tasted really fishy to me). But Fiber Gourmet has changed my life! It is SO good and the little nests make it super easy to portion out just one serving. I HIGHLY recommend it. Thanks for all the great tips, Hungry Girl. Keep them coming!

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  • 11. Posted by wilway on Mon, May 19, 2008, 1:45 am PDT

    Do you have a recipe for low carb bread?

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  • 12. Posted by Amberlynn on Mon, May 19, 2008, 11:13 am PDT

    Does anyone know where to find the Tofu Shirataki in Phoenix, AZ?

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  • 13. Posted by eve on Wed, May 21, 2008, 9:48 am PDT

    Instead of emphasizing the "low carb" diet, why not encourage people to eat healthy carbs than have minimal impact on their blood sugar. There are many out there and there always have been. Try eating whole grain pasta, quinoa, brown rice. If you are worried about the effect of sugar while eating a piece of cake, just don't eat it. Don't try to create a harmful cake out of chemicals so that you don't eat carbs... gross.

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  • 14. Posted by livwilm on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:24 am PDT

    The White Wheat bread from Sarah Lee is good too.

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  • 15. Posted by Polrky1 on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:26 am PDT

    Hey rlavarco, Try looking at your local WalMart for the bread. That is the only place I have found it, other than seeing a little of it at Stater Bros.

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  • 16. Posted by ismaelawilliams on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:38 am PDT

    I have had the tortilla with some grilled turkey and salad, for a healthy burrito. It was awesome, I am hooked on the thing!

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  • 17. Posted by mom 'o 5 on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:39 am PDT

    The sara lee bread has high fructose corn syrup as one of the first 5 ingredients. Many of the other brands do as well. Nature's Own whole wheat bread doesn't have it, but some of their other varieties do. Wheat bread is supposed to be healthier, but you have to watch the ingreidents as well.

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  • 18. Posted by Lianne on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:42 am PDT

    What about those of us that are gluten intolerant. All the things we see that are low carb low cal etc are all full of wheat glutens. When does something come out that is a bread or pasta product other than a rice noodle that we can consume

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  • 19. Posted by tieta642004 on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:44 am PDT

    Very Very Very OLD NEWS

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  • 20. Posted by Valerie E on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:49 am PDT

    Not everyone needs the low carbs for diet purposes. I'm diabetic and need to count carbs for each meal and snack. They add up quickly, so it's nice to have low carb items to help fill up.

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  • 21. Posted by ghettolasagna on Wed, May 21, 2008, 11:52 am PDT

    The Saralee bread and Tortilla Factory tortillas are awesome, but I've tried Tofu Shirataki as a pasta alternative (I put it in marinara sauce) and, seriously, it made me gag.

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  • 22. Posted by jenf921@verizon.net on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:04 pm PDT

    For everyone looking to purchase these products if you go to there web sites you can locate where they can be purchased, also they have online vendors for those out of the usa. www.house-foods.com is the site for the Tofu Shirataki. Happy Eating

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  • 23. Posted by Amy T on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:05 pm PDT

    Need a bagel? Western Bagel (makers of the Alternative Bagel line) offers Perfect 10 Bagels. Breakdown for one whole grain bagel: Calories 140 Total Fat 2g Total Carbohydrates 19g (Dietary Fiber 9g) Protein 18g

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  • 24. Posted by maryann_derson_07006 on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:07 pm PDT

    Fiber One bread whole wheat bread is really great also; 1 slice - 100 cal., 1.5 g fat, 23 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 4 g sugar & 5g protein.

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  • 25. Posted by Erica on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:09 pm PDT

    Aunt Millie's Brand (The only place I have found it is Meijer stores in the Chicagoland area) now has a whole grain white bread with no HFCS...you can eat two slices for 120 calories. I love brown rice and whole grain pasta, but can't give up the nostalgia that is white bread and I found this to be great alternative.

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  • 26. Posted by Cochy on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:15 pm PDT

    There are always options when getting pasta and bread. Look for whole grains and low calorie options... it may cost a little more, but it tastes great and it much healthier. I don't believe in the whole "carb" craze.

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  • 27. Posted by 25 on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:17 pm PDT

    I know the Sara Lee Honey bread has enriched flour. We should be eating bread that is 100 percent whole wheat. Sara lee has a bread that is 100 percent whole wheat but it has 60 calories a slice. Don't be fooled by these supposedly healthy breads because they are usually bad for you and have fructose syrup.

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  • 28. Posted by Mike on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:18 pm PDT

    Why don't I just eat a fricking pine tree

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  • 29. Posted by Lisa D on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:20 pm PDT

    Check the ingredients on breads for high fructose corn syrup! I've only found one type of bread that doesn't have it. It's from Orowheat, called Healthy Multi Grain. ALL the other "healthy" loaves contain the h.f.c.s. junk!

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  • 30. Posted by lhklsr on Wed, May 21, 2008, 12:21 pm PDT

    In phoenix you can get the Shirataki noodles at WholeFoods.

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