Rice and pasta: which of these foods has the least calories?
You care about your streak and hesitate between pasta or rice? A dietitian will help you make the right decision and reveal the secrets of these two basic foods.
When you're in a hurry, don't feel like cooking or just want to treat yourself to a simple treat, a pasta or rice dish often comes to mind. And for good reason: These foods can take many forms, each as tempting as the other!
Bolognese, carbonara, butter for pasta, curry, stir-fry or vegetables for rice... Lots of variations that change the taste, but also the calorific value of these foods. But to keep the streak, is it better to bet pasta or rice?
Rice and Noodles: Nutritionally Equivalent Food
Good news: rice and pasta contain the same number of calories, about 350 calories per 100 grams. If they are eaten "plain", they have the same effect on the streak. But caloric value is not the only criterion that should be taken into account to assess the effect of these foods on weight changes. Thus rice contains slightly more fat, that is, more fat than pasta (1.5% vs. 0.5%), but also contains more carbohydrates, ie, sugars (78% vs. 71%). However, they can be eaten more easily, steamed and without added fat than pasta.
These nuances have no real consequences down the line: it's the way these foods are cooked as well as the increase in quantity and frequency that results in eating more calories than spending and leading to weight gain. Nutritionally and calorie-wise, pasta and rice are relatively equal and there is no point in favoring one of these two foods over the other.
Rice and pasta: how to eat them to reduce weight gain?
To curb the habits that promote weight gain when cooking rice or pasta, there are some tips, however. If you don't want to eat plain rice or pasta, but still want to boost the nutritional value of your dish, it is recommended that:
Choose pasta or brown rice. This changes only slightly the intake of nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, etc.) and, accordingly, calories, but significantly increases the intake of vitamins, minerals and fiber, which makes it possible to reduce the glycemic index;
The use of plant materials instead of animal materials, such as oil, pesto or even tomato sauce, which are a source of unsaturated fatty acids, instead of fresh butter or cream, which are a source of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol that is harmful to cardiovascular health and poor digestion.
It is preferable to cook al dente, which limits the glycemic index and thus the passage of sugar in the blood, while being more satiating;
Add pasta and rice with vegetables, for more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.