Some Italian food is healthy - salads, pastas with vegetables, and more can all be healthy. Other Italian dishes (like creamy, cheesy pastas or meat based dishes) are higher in saturated fat and calories so they aren't as healthy for you. There are 4 main ways to make Italian recipes healthy and still just as delicious as the traditional versions: 1) Use less olive oil. Italian recipes call for quite a lot of olive oil. In my opinion, it's more than you need. While olive oil is a healthier oil to use compared to others, it is still dense in calories and fat. By reducing the amount of olive oil you use, you will drastically reduce the overall calories and fat in making healthy Italian recipes. 2) Don't use white pasta. There are so many nutrient rich pastas out there. Try whole wheat pasta, lentil pasta, chickpea pasta or others. These pastas are high in fiber, protein, vitamins and nutrients. Whereas, if you opt for white pasta you are just consuming empty calories. 3) Use lots of fresh vegetables. When cooking vegetarian, make sure that you're not just adding pasta and sauce. Load your pastas with fresh vegetables for added nutrients, and more density. The fiber in the added veggies will help keep you fuller longer too! 4) Reduce your portion size. When we go to Italian restaurants we get a huge heaping bowl of pasta which is probably meant to serve 4 not 1. Stick to portion control when it comes to the amount of pasta, or pizza, and load up on the vegetables. You can also use less cheese, or omit the cheese to make healthy vegan Italian recipes.