Is avoiding carbohydrates keeping you away from your favorite pasta dishes? Incorporate them into your weight-loss program the right way with these tips.

You Will Need

Whole grain or quinoa pasta

Sensible portion sizes

Vegetables

Olive oil

Low-fat cheese

4-6 oz. skinless poultry or fish

Steps

Step 1 Choose healthier pasta

Choose whole-grain pasta, gluten-free pasta, or quinoa. Unlike refined pasta, these have protein, antioxidants, B vitamins,minerals, and plenty of fiber, which is important when following a weight-loss program.

To identify a pasta as whole grain, look for whole grain to be first on the product's ingredient list.

Step 2 Practice portion control

Practice portion control. A true, one-serving size of pasta is 1/2 cup cooked -- about the size of a can of tuna.

Step 3 Add veggies

To bulk up your meal, add a cup of chopped cooked vegetables to your pasta.

Step 4 Top with cheese

Toss the pasta and vegetables with a teaspoon of olive oil, a tomato-based pasta sauce. If you want to add cheese, top with a naturally low-fat cheese like mozzarella or goat cheese.

Adding small amounts of healthy fats like cheese adds flavor, which helps you savor the meal, without adding a lot of calories.

Step 5 Add protein

Add a serving of lean protein to your meal to help you feel fuller longer. Four ounces of skinless poultry or fish is ideal.

Step 6 Lose weight

Satisfy your hunger and your craving for pasta while losing weight at the same time.

A study by Louisiana State University found that the single greatest predictor of obesity in middle-aged women was a lack of fiber in their diets.