I like to see how tasty I can make things even when I’m on the dieting wagon. I mean, a girl cannot live on salad alone, and sometimes you still want a plate of pasta or a cream sauce, so it’s kind of a fun game to me to see if I can pull off a family favorite with fewer fat and calories.

For starters, become acquainted with Dreamfields pasta. It is lower in carb and DELICIOUS. Seriously, I hate whole wheat pasta (I can admit it) but I love this stuff.

Also, neufchatel. Delicious, lower in fat. Boom.

My kiddo loves a cheesy noodle more than life itself. I hate to deprive him of them because I’m trying to reduce, so I just had to find a way to pack a lot of flavor into a little calories and make us all happy. I think I succeeded. He ate seconds, and asked if we could have the same thing the next night. He even. ate. the. broccoli.

http://www.lawrence.com/users/photos/2014/may/21/274118/

Four cheese noodles with mustard-glazed chicken and broccoli

4 chicken breasts
2 cups linguini, cooked
2 crowns fresh broccoli
8 oz neufchatel (reduced fat cream cheese)
1/3 cup feta
1/2 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella
1 1/2 cup 2 percent milk
1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 tablespoon dill weed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sweet and spicy mustard
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Coat your chicken breasts in soy sauce and mustard and bake them for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook your pasta and begin your sauce.

In a skillet, drizzle a little olive oil and toss in your broccoli florets with a little salt and pepper. Saute until they soften.

In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil and whisk in the flour. Slowly add the milk, letting the mixture thicken while you whisk. Add the cheeses, garlic, dill, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the broccoli to the sauce and continue to cook to desired consistency.

The combination of flavors with the chicken and the cream sauce is like a little miracle in your mouth.

Slice the chicken and place pieces over the noodles and then toss on a bit of sauce – less if you are me, a little more if you are my four year old.

Serve with a nice spinach salad and feel very smug about how easy and delicious it is. Your family never has to know.