A Healthy New Year

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. 

I, like just about everyone I know, had a goal set to eat healthier in the New Year. 

Drink more water. Eat less chocolate.

The simplest way to do this and succeed? Still eat what you love, only modified. 

Use ingredients with less fat content, more fibre.

Utilize lean meats.

And of course there's portion control. I hate that part. 

I was recently challenged to shop at one of the Loblaw family of stores {I visited our local Fortino's, recently revonated and FABULOUS} and use President's Choice Blue Menu products as part of a healthy recipe. 

I decided to replace a few of the key ingredients in one of my very favourite recipes with Blue Menu alternatives. 

The hunt was on! 

Olive oil, canned tomatoes + dry pasta were on the shopping list.

I was happy to find Blue Menu products side by side in the aisles I normally shopped for these products.

 Spaghetti Bolognese

Ingredients:

650 grams of extra lean ground beef 

1 medium sized onion {diced}

1 carrot {diced}

1 stalk of celery {diced}

Blue Menu omega oil

2 large cans of Blue Menu diced tomatoes 

salt to taste
parmigiano reggiano
1 package of Blue Menu whole grain Spaghetti

In a medium sized saucepan, over medium heat, place 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil and gently sautee the diced onion, carrot and celery until golden.
Add the ground beef and gently cook until no longer pink, stirring often.
Prepare your diced tomatoes by blending until smooth. 
Add the tomatoes to the meat and vegetable mixture.
Salt to taste.
TIP: Cook over low heat for a MINIMUM of 1 and a half hours. The longer you cook this sauce, the better it will be. 
I kid you not.

Once ready, bring water to a boil and add your spaghetti.
Cook according to instructions and test your pasta to ensure it is perfectly al dente.
Cover with sauce and mix until well coated.
To plate: Portion spaghetti, add sauce on top and sprinkle generously with parmigiano reggiano.

I have been making this exact recipe for years and always use good quality, canned italian tomatoes and olive oil. 
Although I have been known to try whole wheat or spelt pasta, I typically always return to white.
Now, I realize that by substituting just a few ingredients, the taste stays remarkably similiar to the original but with half the calories and double the fibre.

Buon Appetito.
And cheers to a Healthy New Year!