Dish guides · Italian

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans healthy?

Spaghetti marinara with white beans costs about $2.83 a serving to make at home at typical US grocery prices. Going by its main ingredients, it's a good fit for more protein. For lower LDL, steadier blood sugar and weight loss, go easy on parmesan and spaghetti.

By health goal

Lower LDL
In moderation
Go easy on parmesan; using less keeps the dish and helps with lower LDL. Cannellini beans and olive oil help.
Steadier blood sugar
With a swap
Go easy on spaghetti. Cannellini beans and olive oil help. Swapping spaghetti for whole wheat pasta keeps the dish and makes it better for steadier blood sugar.
Lower blood pressure
Watch the salt
Go easy on canned tomatoes and parmesan: they're salty. Most of the salt in dishes like this comes from the sauce, so go light on soy sauce or use a low-sodium one.
Weight loss
With a swap
Go easy on spaghetti and parmesan. Cannellini beans help. Swapping spaghetti for whole wheat pasta keeps the dish and makes it better for weight loss.
More protein
Good fit
For more protein, cannellini beans in spaghetti marinara with white beans help, and nothing in it works against that goal.

Allergies and diets

Contains: milk / dairy (parmesan) · wheat / gluten (spaghetti)
Vegetarian
Yes
Yes, going by its ingredients.
Vegan
No
No: it has parmesan.
Gluten-free
With a swap
Not as usually made. Use gluten-free pasta for the spaghetti.
Dairy-free
With a swap
With a swap: nutritional yeast or a dairy-free cheese for the parmesan.
Going by ingredient names. Packaged sauces can hide allergens, so check the labels.

For LDL cholesterol, with sources

3 of 5
LDL habits in this dish
✓
Soluble fiber (oats, barley, beans, eggplant, okra, fruit)
Fish, ideally oily (salmon, mackerel, sardines)
✓
Soy or beans in place of some meat
✓
Nuts, seeds, olive oil or avocado
Little fatty meat, cream, butter or cheese
Helps your LDL
cannellini beans
Beans: soluble fiber and plant protein.
Mayo Clinic
olive oil
Unsaturated fat that can lower LDL.
Mayo Clinic
Go easy
parmesan
Cream, butter and cheese: saturated fat raises LDL.
American Heart Association
One swap each, same dish
parmesan to half the cheese, plus toasted walnuts or pine nuts
Keeps the savory finish, adds healthy fats

What goes in (per portion)

spaghetti
¼ lb
canned tomatoes
½ can
cannellini beans
¼ can
garlic
¼ head
basil
¼ bunch
olive oil
½ tbsp
parmesan
0 cup
We usually serve it with arugula.

Questions

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans healthy?

Spaghetti marinara with white beans costs about $2.83 a serving to make at home at typical US grocery prices. Going by its main ingredients, it's a good fit for more protein. For lower LDL, steadier blood sugar and weight loss, go easy on parmesan and spaghetti.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans good for high cholesterol?

In moderation. Go easy on parmesan; using less keeps the dish and helps with lower LDL. Cannellini beans and olive oil help.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans OK for blood sugar or diabetes?

With a swap. Go easy on spaghetti. Cannellini beans and olive oil help. Swapping spaghetti for whole wheat pasta keeps the dish and makes it better for steadier blood sugar.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans OK for high blood pressure?

Go easy on canned tomatoes and parmesan: they're salty. Most of the salt in dishes like this comes from the sauce, so go light on soy sauce or use a low-sodium one.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans good for weight loss?

With a swap. Go easy on spaghetti and parmesan. Cannellini beans help. Swapping spaghetti for whole wheat pasta keeps the dish and makes it better for weight loss.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans high in protein?

Yes, going by its main ingredients. For more protein, cannellini beans in spaghetti marinara with white beans help, and nothing in it works against that goal.

How much does spaghetti marinara with white beans cost to make at home?

About $2.83 a serving, or $11.33 for four servings, at typical US grocery prices: the part of each ingredient the dish uses, plus $0.25 a serving for oil, salt and spices.

How can I make spaghetti marinara with white beans healthier?

Swap spaghetti for whole wheat pasta. It keeps the dish recognizable.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans gluten-free?

Not as usually made. Use gluten-free pasta for the spaghetti.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans vegetarian?

Yes, going by its ingredients.

Is spaghetti marinara with white beans dairy-free?

With a swap: nutritional yeast or a dairy-free cheese for the parmesan.

What allergens are in spaghetti marinara with white beans?

Its ingredients have milk / dairy (parmesan) and wheat / gluten (spaghetti). Always check the labels on sauces and packaged foods.

Plan a week of dishes like this

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General nutrition information, not medical advice, based on each dish's main ingredients as we cook it; sauces and salt vary by recipe. Prices are typical US grocery prices and vary by store.
Eat Healthy AF is general nutrition information, not medical advice. It doesn't diagnose or treat anything. Keep your doctor in the loop, and don't change any medication without them.