Whole Grain Lasagna Roll Ups

Let me start by saying I promise I eat things other than lasagna. After making the lasagna soup I posted last week, I had half a package of lasagna noodles left and decided to make a recipe I had pinned awhile ago. The website I found this recipe on claimed that they were easier to make than actual lasagna.. no. They were time consuming and very slippery! The rolls are much easier to serve and determine portion size, but definitely not easier to assemble.

That being said, you really cant put a price on perfect portion sizes. Exactly two noodles, two tablespoons of cheese mixture, two spoonfuls of sauce/meat mixture, and a little sauce and cheese on top was the exact right amount for a "full" dinner. When I think about making "full" meals I always think of my body as a machine. I have to check off certain boxes (carbohydrates, protein, & fat) and satisfy certain requirements (those of my stomach and intestines). If one part is missing or goes unsatisfied, then the process remains incomplete. The goal is to have a running machine by the end of the day so that all of my inputs balance out. 

This is a really technical way of thinking about food, but it helps me remember that I am not eating just because I am bored or because something tastes good. I am eating to nourish my body and keep it in good working condition- like a machine! That doesn't have to mean eating only veggies and boiled chicken, though. Healthy food can be delicious and flavorful.

As easy as it is to just eat the bad stuff (because lets face it, it's delicious and almost always more convenient), lets focus on turning the good stuff into something we can enjoy and even look forward to. I really think this recipe does just that!

Lasagna Roll Ups

Ingredients

 12 whole grain lasagna noodles

1 pound lean ground turkey

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves of garlic, minced

16 ounces pasta sauce

15 ounces ricotta cheese

1 large egg

1.5 cups mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

dried basil, salt, & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Saute chopped onion, garlic, and ground turkey until browned.

2. Cook lasagna noodles according the package.

3. Mix together the ricotta, egg, mozzarella, salt, pepper, and basil.

4. Begin assembly by spreading 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture on a noodle. Next, spread a spoonful of pasta sauce, and then a spoonful of the ground turkey mixture.

5. Roll the noodle and place in a casserole dish. Repeat with remaining 11 noodles.

6. Spoon pasta sauce over the 12 roll ups, and then sprinkle the 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese on top.

7. Place a sheet of foil over the casserole dish loosely. 

8. Bake the rolls at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.