Who doesn’t love a bowl of pasta? Whether it’s because the weather is starting to cool down and you are looking for something filling and warm to help ease your evening, or you are craving something comforting after a stressful day at work, pasta has always had a special way of bringing people together. But when you are trying to eat healthier or lose weight, pasta isn’t actually a very great choice for your dinner menu. What may have once been a weekly staple will now find its way to the back of your pantry, and you may even soon find yourself missing one of your favorite meals.

It is one of the first rules of weight loss that when you want to stick with a diet plan, you need to find a way to work around your cravings. Completely depriving yourself of your favorite flavors isn’t wise—and usually isn’t necessary. When it comes to your favorite pasta dishes, there are plenty of ways to bring the flavors that you love into your dinner without adding all of those carbs from the pasta itself.

Here are a few fun pasta alternatives that fit with most dietary plans:

• Black bean pasta: This is an amazing way to add a bit of lean protein to your diet without having to reshape your entire meal plan. You can buy black bean noodles at the store, or create your own from a can of black beans.
• Zucchini noodles: Zucchini is a healthy green vegetable, and you can turn it into a tasty pasta with almost no effort. Use a spiralizer before cooking the zucchini and then boil the pasta just briefly for a texture incredibly reminiscent of traditional spaghetti. You can serve the noodles with a bit of sugar-free vegetable sauce and lean protein for a healthy meal.
• Spaghetti Squash: This may be perhaps the easiest pasta alternative to cook up, and it is especially perfect for the fall weather, though it is great year round. Slice a spaghetti squash down the middle and clear out the seeds, and then bake it for 30 minutes until the middle is ready to shred. Use a fork to create the noodles, and toss them in a bowl with your preferred fixings.

It is always important to check with your weight loss surgeon before making any adjustments to your dietary plan, but opting for lean proteins and vegetables is usually a smart choice when you are focusing on improving your eating habits at any stage of your weight loss program.