We really need to stop labeling foods as either “good” or “bad” or “cheat meals.” If you ask me, all food is good and there is no such thing as a cheat meal. Having a delicious meal that is a hug for your soul is really what makes life worth living! Yes it has carbs, but I’m lifting so I need them! …and I dialed in my breakfast and lunch to account for this.
I sat down to eat this beautiful dinner and savored every, single, bite. It was just so delicious… And the bonus really was that I COULD fit it into my tracker today and I ate it without any guilt whatsoever. If you weigh and measure your cheese and use a lean protein like this lean pork you can get this into your belly too and stick to your nutrition goals.
Track it, or don’t track it, but definitely make this one for yourself and the people that you love. #highproteindinner #italianfood #datenight #stuffedshells #lowcalorie
Ingredients:
3 tsp Olive Oil, divided
6 cloves Garlic, chopped, divided
1 790g can Crushed Tomatoes
5 tsp Italian Seasoning, divided (or more, to taste)
1 tsp dried Basil (or more, to taste)
1 tbsp Fennel Seed, crushed or grinded
1 lb lean Ground Pork
2.5 oz Fresh Spinach, chopped
1/3 cup chopped Fresh Parsley
5 oz whole milk Mozzarella Cheese, divided
15 oz part skim Ricotta Cheese
1 Egg
8 oz Jumbo Shells (30 shells), boiled until slightly softened (do not overcook)
1 tbsp grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper
Add 2 tsp olive oil to a medium saucepan over low heat, then add ½ of the chopped garlic, 1 tsp of Italian seasoning and ½ tsp basil, and cook for a few seconds just until fragrant.
Pour in the canned tomatoes, add another tsp of Italian seasoning and ½ tsp of basil, then season with salt & pepper and set a side to simmer over low heat.
Add 1 tsp olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, then add the pork, the rest of the chopped garlic, the fennel, 2 tsp of Italian seasoning, salt & pepper, and cook the mixture until the meat is browned and cooked through.
Combine the spinach, parsley, half of the grated mozzarella, ricotta cheese, egg, 1 tsp of Italian seasoning, salt & pepper in a large bowl, then add the cooked meat mixture, and stir to combine everything.
Put a thin layer of the sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish.
Stuff all of the shells with the meat and cheese mixture, and place the stuffed shells in the baking dish stuffing side up.
Top with the remaining sauce, the remaining mozzarella cheese and the parmesan cheese.
Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven until the cheese is melted and everything is bubbly, about 35 minutes.
Makes 5 servings: 39g Protein, 3g Fiber, 596 Calories per serving (6 stuffed shells)
Click here for more high protein meal ideas! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC3jcr9O1Ky1Da4GCLzh2nTBsaQ3BX6rj&si=vV0MI6K0iKoefbrX
This is the app that I use to track my macros: https://www.mynetdiary.com/
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