I enjoy Ragu brand sauce, but it’s even tastier when I doctor it up myself with some ground beef and a little bit of sugar. Pair one-half cup of this sauce together with one serving of pasta (2 oz. dry), and you have a 357 calorie lunch. You can’t beat that!
If I use Prego brand sauce instead of Ragu sauce, I eliminate the added sugar. Prego contains sugar. You can add other ingredients such a green pepper and mushrooms if you wish. A cup of chopped green pepper adds only 4.5 calories per serving. One cup of mushrooms adds only 2 calories per serving.
Spaghetti with Doctored-Up Ragu Sauce Recipe
| Ingredients | Calories |
| 1 -26 oz jar Ragu sauce containing 6-1/2 c. servings | 420 |
| 1 - lb. package of ground round (85%,15%), browned | 864 |
| 2 Tbsp. raw sugar @ 45 calories per Tbsp. | 90 |
| 1 medium onion, chopped and sautéed with beef | 42 |
| Total calories for the sauce: | 1416 |
| Calories per 1/2 cup serving: | 157 |
Brown the meat and sauté onions. (Note: The Nutrition Facts label on the package of ground round that I bought stated it contained 13.6 oz. ground meat @ 960 calories. I deducted 10% fat calories after cooking. Perhaps that’s faulty thinking, but I thought it was logical. I drain off the fat and pat with paper toweling before mixing ingredients together. I usually buy the 85% ground round, 15% fat mixture meat because fat is flavor.) Mix all ingredients together in an oven-safe covered cooking vessel. Cook at 350ºF oven for 1 to 1-1/2 hours. This method is easier than simmering on top of the stove and you don’t end up with tomato sauce splattered all over your stovetop. When the ingredients are blended well, measure half-cup servings into small containers and freeze.
To use sauce immediately, prepare 2 ounces of dry pasta (for each serving) according to package instructions and enjoy. Two ounces of pasta contain 200 calories on average. With pasta and sauce you have a 352-calorie meal.
Pair this meal with a nice side salad (42 calories) with a low calorie dressing (Wishbone Raspberry Bliss Spritzer - 10 sprays = 10 calories), you still have enough remaining calories to have a 4-oz. glass of red wine (85 calories) to make a 500-calorie lunch menu.
OR
You can enjoy 1/2 cup of Edy’s Strawberry ice cream for 130 calories to make a nice lunch under 500 calories.
OR
How about an 6-oz glass of skim milk (68 calories) and 1 cup of cantaloupe (56 calories) for another lunch under 500 calories.