For my first post, I wanted to share a little bit about myself before I share one of my personal favorite kid-friendly meals! I’m a lifestyle blogger over at Hansen&Heidelberg, a recent college graduate pursuing a career in Social Media Marketing and Brand Management, Sudoku master, Pinterest addict, bohemian; who has a deep desire to travel the world and I’m thrilled to be part of the Family Focus community! Now, on with the kid friendly spaghetti squash recipe! The whole family will love this healthy dinner. The healthy spaghetti squash baked in the oven is covered in marinara and cheese for a low carb meal with classic Italian flavors.
Healthy Spaghetti Squash Recipe
Over the last 5-6 years I’ve molded my eating habits and learned the ins and outs of healthy eating without forgoing taste. A staple and personal favorite has always been pasta. I don’t know what is it, but I crave it! So, when I’m having the urge for pasta but I am trying to stay low carb, my go-to meal is my Spaghetti Squash Italian Style. It is the perfect alternative to pasta and its filled with nutritional benefits, loaded with flavor, and the pasta cravings are gone!
While it is easy to say my friends and family love it, who really matters is the biggest critic of them all- my 6-year-old niece. And let me just say, she loves this Kid Approved Spaghetti Squash Recipe!
One thing I absolutely love about cooking with my niece is her curiosity and willingness to try new things (sometimes). But, I realize how difficult it can be to get the kiddos on board to eat nutritional meals versus the colorful, tantalizing meals that come in brightly colored packages, and are usually equipped with a treat or toy inside! But I promise, this Spaghetti Squash healthy meal that won’t disappoint anyone in the family. The spaghetti squash, once baked, has strands that resemble spaghetti so your kids will naturally what to eat it!
Spaghetti Squash (Low Carb) With Marinara And Cheese:
Kid Approved Spaghetti Squash Recipe Serves 4-6
Kid Approved Spaghetti Squash Ingredients:
- 1 package of Ground Turkey 93%-99% lean or Lean Ground Beef
- 1 medium Yellow Onion chopped
- 3 cloves of Garlic
- 2 tablespoon of Olive Oil
- 2 small Spaghetti Squashes
- 1 14.5 oz can of Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon of Tomato Paste
- 4 medium sized chopped Tomatoes
- Oregano
- Salt
- Pepper
How To Cook Spaghetti Squash:
- Preheat Oven to 400 degrees
- Cut Spaghetti Squash into two halves
- Sprinkle Salt & Pepper in the halves of the Spaghetti Squash
- Once oven is heated, place the Spaghetti halves facing up on a baking sheet and into the oven for 60 minutes
- In a medium sized saucepan, combine olive oil, garlic, chopped onions. Once onions are translucent, add the ground turkey
- Season with salt, pepper, oregano
- Once the ground turkey is almost completely cooked, add can of Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Tomato Paste, and chopped tomatoes
- Cook on low for 5-10 minutes. Taste; add additional oregano, salt, and pepper for taste preferences
- Once the Spaghetti Squash is finished in the oven remove and let sit for a few minutes. Once cooled, use a fork to scrape out the squash into a spaghetti-like texture!
- Serve your turkey sauce over a bed of spaghetti squash and add a light dusting of Parmesan cheese!
Printable Recipe Card For Baked Spaghetti Squash
Kid Friendly Spaghetti Squash Recipe [Covered In Marinara and Cheese]
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Ground Turkey or Lean Ground Beef
- 1 medium Yellow Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of Garlic
- 2 tablespoon of Olive Oil
- 2 small Spaghetti Squash
- 1 14.5 oz can of Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon of Tomato Paste
- 4 medium sized chopped fresh tomatoes
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Cut each Spaghetti Squash into two halves.
- Sprinkle Salt & Pepper on the four halves of Spaghetti Squash.
- Place the Spaghetti halves facing up on a baking sheet (cover in baking pan foil first for easy clean up). Bake in the oven for 60 minutes.
- In a medium sized saucepan, combine olive oil, minced garlic, and chopped onions. Once onions are translucent, add the ground turkey or lean ground beef.
- Season with salt, pepper, oregano.
- Once the ground turkey is almost completely cooked, add can of Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Tomato Paste, and chopped tomatoes.
- Cook tomato sauce on low for 5-10 minutes. Taste; add additional oregano, salt, and pepper for taste preferences.
- Once the Spaghetti Squash is finished in the oven remove and let sit for a few minutes. Once cooled, use a fork to scrape out the squash onto a plate so you can see its spaghetti-like texture!
- Serve your tomato meat sauce over a bed of spaghetti squash and add a light dusting of Parmesan cheese!
Nutrition Facts
Kid Friendly Spaghetti Squash Recipe [Covered In Marinara and Cheese]
Serves: 4
| Amount Per Serving: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 452.27 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 30.87 g | 47.5% | |
| Saturated Fat 9.8 g | 49% | |
| Trans Fat 1.34 g | ||
| Cholesterol 80.51 mg | 26.8% | |
| Sodium 548.95 mg | 22.9% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 23.24 g | 7.7% | |
| Dietary Fiber 6.56 g | 26.2% | |
| Sugars 11.72 g | ||
| Protein 23.01 g | ||
| Vitamin A 89.17 µg | Vitamin C 36.6 mg | |
| Calcium 118.82 mg | Iron 3.96 mg | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Family Focus Blog
Conclusion
I like to think of this spaghetti squash recipe as a healthy choice because spaghetti squash itself is full of nutrition. As LiveStrong says, “Not only is it low in calories and carbs, it also provides a range of vitamins and minerals, including B-complex vitamins, dietary fiber and manganese.” Futhermore, swapping out ground turkey or lean ground beef for regular ground beef is also considered a healthy choice. As The Center for Health & Well Being puts it, ” Adding a few portions of lean protein or swapping a higher fat protein for a low-fat protein can help you avoid high blood pressure and all the risks that come along with it.”
The tomato sauce topping is also pretty healthy. According to Healthline, tomatoes “are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.”
I hope you enjoy my baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe! It is a great way to meet that pasta craving without having any pasta! Have your kids tried spaghetti squash before? What are your favorite kid approved healthy meals?
Related Posts:
Spicy Butternut Squash Turkey Chili Recipe
Parenting Tips at Uplifting Families says
I tried making the spaghetti squash one day so that I could cut out some carbs from my diet. I didn’t like the bland taste of it. I like how you added the tomato sauce for more flavor.