Jul 12th 2022
Is there anything better than a big bowl of noodles? Noodles have been part of Asian cuisine for thousands of years, with the oldest noodles dating back 4,000 years!
Noodles are filling and comforting. They form the base of so many of our favorite dishes. But if you're watching your calories, you might think you need to give up noodles. Not so! You're about to learn the secret to enjoying all those noodle dishes while keeping calories in check.
Many people think pasta originated in Italy, but noodles go back even further in Asian countries. Archaeologists recently found a 4,000-year-old bowl of noodles in Lajia, a northwestern part of China. The noodles were buried at a dig site in an overturned bowl. They were so well preserved that the archaeologists could even determine from the bright yellow color that the noodles were millet-based.
Noodles are mentioned in writings from the East Han Dynasty as one of the first descriptions of the delicious food. There are also mentions of noodles in Arab cultures (as well as Italy, of course). Since the beginning of recorded time, people have been slurping up big bowls of the yummy and satisfying culinary delight known as noodles.
Noodles are a big part of Asian culture. In China, different types of noodles are enjoyed during different occasions, holidays, festivals, and seasons. On birthdays, long noodles are eaten to represent long life. Newlyweds might enjoy noodles with gravy at their wedding or when they move into a new house. Stories and lore accompany the different types of noodles like "old friend noodles" and "dutiful son noodles.”
Depending on the country, customs, and even regions, people may enjoy noodles in different ways. For example, Arab traders would often carry noodles on their Silk Road journeys, but they would dry the noodles first, so they were portable. They would then rehydrate the noodles in boiling water over the fire. In early writings, noodles were referred to as “bing," meaning cake, because they were made from flour and water, dried into small cakes to be boiled later (similar to modern-day ramen).
Some cultures prefer cold noodles, while other regions only eat noodles in hot dishes. In some areas, noodles are considered more of a snack, and rice is the main staple. In other places, noodles are the main ingredient in almost every meal. In northern China, noodles are served with seasonings like garlic and ginger. In the southern regions, noodles are often seasoned with strong sauces like soy, vinegar, and spiced sauces.
Today noodles are ubiquitous throughout Asian culture. Journey to China, Japan, Thailand, or South Korea—and chances are, you’ll discover a favorite dish made with noodles. Asian cuisine is a hit around the globe now, and so many of those yummy noodle-based meals are just as popular in Europe and North America as well.
In almost any city, you'll find Chinese takeout restaurants, ramen counters, and Japanese steakhouses that feature noodles on their menu. The Vietnamese noodle dish pho and pad Thai from Thailand are extremely popular. Korean dishes like japchae have also become favorites.
Of course, any student or newly independent young adult knows the joys of dried and packaged ramen noodles. After a night out on the town, there’s nothing quite as delicious or comforting as warm, salty noodles topped with whatever you happen to have in the fridge or freezer.
The world has a love affair with noodles, in all their starchy, carby glory.
Now for the sad news about those starchy carbs. There are a lot of calories in noodles. A bowl of noodles has between 200-400 calories—just for the pasta. Not to mention the toppings and sauce that will get added on. Those little flavor packets are chockfull of sodium. Many sauces are high in calories and sugar.
What started as a healthy dish has become something of a diet hazard. If you're watching your weight, noodles are probably one of the first items you take off the menu.
If you long for all your favorite noodle dishes, we’re about to make you very happy. Let’s introduce you to It’s Skinny Pasta (and It’s Skinny Rice). At only 9 calories per bag and ZERO net carbs, It’s Skinny is the low-calorie noodle you’ve been longing for.
What’s the secret behind It’s Skinny? How do we cut out all the carbs and calories while still keeping the noodles? Our special ingredient takes you right back to noodles’ Asian origins. It’s called konjac.
The humble konjac root is a funny-looking little vegetable. It looks a little like a turnip and has a very fibrous texture. It's been used in Chinese medicine for centuries, helps regulate digestion, and is even thought to help with weight loss. Konjac also happens to make a very delicious stand-in for carb-heavy traditional pasta.
Konjac noodles are often known as shirataki noodles or miracle noodles. These diet noodles are perfect for any meal plan. So, if you're looking for keto-friendly noodles, vegan noodles, or just a healthy low-carb pasta substitute, It's Skinny is the perfect way to make your noodle dreams come true.
It's Skinny contains only a few natural ingredients. They’re gluten-free, non-GMO, paleo, vegan, and kosher! They’re ideal for people with allergies and food sensitivities. The diet noodles have a great texture and are a perfect low-calorie, healthy noodle option for your favorite dishes.
How do you prepare It’s Skinny noodles? It’s even easier to prepare than that pre-packaged ramen (and much better for you). Simply cook your other ingredients, sauce, protein, and vegetables. When your toppings are almost prepared, tear open the package of It’s Skinny and drain the noodles (some people like to rinse and pat them dry, but it's up to you). Add the noodles to the other ingredients to heat through or for about a minute, and dinner is served. It's that simple.
If you’re ready to upgrade your noodles to It’s Skinny, order some today! We have It’s Skinny noodles available in a convenient 6 pack. Check out the variety pack to get 2 spaghetti, 2 fettuccine, 1 angel hair, and 1 rice. It’s the perfect option for trying all the different noodle shapes and sizes.
Wondering what recipes work with It’s Skinny? You can try It’s Skinny noodles in any of your favorite noodle dishes. They are perfect for pasta favorites like fettuccine a la Bolognese, pesto chicken with angel hair, or shrimp scampi with spaghetti.
It’s Skinny noodles are also ideal for Asian-style noodle dishes. Try them in Thai drunken noodles (one of our favorites). It’s Skinny rice is perfect for healthy chicken fried rice. Try the noodles with stir fry, pad Thai, teriyaki noodles, and so much more.
To use It’s Skinny noodles in your favorite meals, first decide on the dish you want to create. Cook your longer-cooking vegetables (like onions, peppers, carrots, broccoli, and celery). When the vegetables are softening, you'll want to add your protein and cook it thoroughly. As it's starting to cook through, add your quick-cooking sprouts, Bok choy, cabbage, snap peas, and greens. At the end of cooking, you’ll add your sauce like teriyaki, curry, sweet and sour, or any other sauce you like. Finally, add in your It’s Skinny noodles, and cook for about a minute until heated through. Garnish with chopped herbs, nuts, or sesame seeds, and serve.
In no time, you'll have a perfect low-calorie noodle dish that's crave-worth and healthy. Don't derail your diet. Choose keto-friendly noodles with only 9 calories per bag and ZERO net carbs per serving. With It's Skinny, there's no reason to deprive yourself! You can have your favorite noodles your way!