A fit mum who lost 73kg has shared her go-to tuna pasta recipe that helped her get into shape – and the key swaps she recommends everyone makes to their diet.
Chantelle Sisco once tipped the scales at 162kg but cleaned up her diet and started an exercise routine so she could lose weight and enjoy being 21.
One of the meals the Queensland mum relied on when she was shedding the kilos was her simple tuna pasta meal with cheese, spinach, mushrooms and sweet chilli sauce.
She also revealed she switched white bread to wholemeal thins and canola oil to avocado oil.
When on a weight loss journey, where most people go wrong is they feel like they have to cut out all the foods they love when realistically you just need to have it in portions, Chantelle explained in an online video.
Before and after: Mum Chantelle Sisco has shared her go-to tuna pasta recipe and the food swaps she made to lose 73kg
One of the meals the Queensland mum relied on when she was on her journey to better health was her simple tuna pasta meal with cheese, spinach, mushrooms and sweet chilli sauce
The 21-year-old shared how to make her favourite pasta dish which is just 458 calories per serve.
She starts by cooking one cup of pasta then adding it to a baking dish with corn kernels, mushrooms, spinach and a tin of sweet chilli tuna.
Chantelle mixes the ingredients up then adds a dollop of sweet chilli sauce and stirs to coat.
She then breaks up a slice of cheese and places it on top of her pasta and puts it in the oven to melt then serves.
Chantelle’s simple food swaps she made to clean up her diet
Swap – Queens pure Canadian maple syrup
For – Queens sugar free maple flavoured syrup
Swap – Bega Farmers Tasty grated cheese
For – Woolworths Australia light tasty shredded cheese
Swap – Soft white sandwich bread
For – TipTop wholemeal sandwich thins or Macro linseed and sunflower low carb loaf
Swap – Canola oil
For – Avocado oil
Swap – Chicken thighs
For – Chicken breasts
Swap – McCain BBQ Meatlovers family pizza
For – FroPro pepperoni and ham protein pizza
Chantelle is preparing for a bodybuilding competition after shedding 73kg so she could enjoy being 21 and run after her son
Speaking to FEMAIL, the determined mum said she had always been a big girl but it wasnt until after she saw a photo of herself after giving birth that she felt she needed to change.
I will never forget it, I was at my friends baby shower. I had already given birth and was the biggest one there, she said.
I saw the photo and thought “do I really look like that? I am disgusting”.
At the time, she weighed 162kg and was feeling unfit for the first time in her life.
I put on 30kg when I was pregnant, I wanted to lose that and I wanted to be able to play with my son, Chantelle said.
Chantelle said she would eat anything that would fit in her mouth before deciding to change her habits.
Chantelle said this was the photo that made her reassess her lifestyle: I will never forget it, I was at my friends baby shower. I had already given birth and was the biggest one there
I wouldnt have set meals, I would just eat everything all the time. Kind of like one continuous meal of pizza, McDonalds, chicken schnitzel, whatever was in the fridge and always anything deep fried, she said.
She still enjoys eating all of those foods, but does it in moderation.
The busy mum is sharing her story to help inspire other people to hit their health and fitness goals – and wants them to know they dont have to hit the gym everyday to get results.
Chantelle lost her first 10kg by going for five minute walks around the block with her mum, who joined her in her weight loss journey whenever she could.
Chantelle was 162kg at her heaviest and couldnt walk around the block without getting puffed out
Now she works out every day – and is confident – even when it comes to showing off her legs – which shes always been insecure about
RECIPE: Chantelle’s go-to healthy sweet chilli tuna pasta bake
- Pasta
- Corn kernels
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
- Tin of sweet chili tuna
- Sweet chilli sauce
- Cheese
- Cook 1 cup of past as per the packet instructions
- In a small baking dish add the cooked pasta with a small handful of slices mushrooms, corn kernels, and spinach and mix the ingredients together
- Add a small dollop of sweet chilli sauce and stir to combine
- Break up two slices of cheese and place them on top of the pasta
- Put the dish in a hot oven until the cheese melts and serve
Chantelle mixes cooked pasta, mushrooms, spinach, corn, tuna and sweet chilli tuna in a baking dish. She adds sweet chilli sauce, tops with cheese then bakes
The mum opted for light tasty Woolworths brand cheese rather than Begas Farmers Tasty and swapped white bread for sandwich thins or a linseed and sunflower seed loaf.
Chantelle started cooking with avocado oil instead of canola oil and switched chicken thighs for leaner breasts.
Not wanting to give up her favourite foods for good, she bought FroPros protein pizza with 50 per cent less carbs over McCains meat lovers frozen pizza.
Before focusing on her health, Chantelle could barely walk around the block with her baby son without feeling breathless and wanting to sit down.
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Is tuna good for weight loss?
Tuna is an excellent source of protein and can be low in calories and makes a healthy addition to any weight-loss diet. As long as you choose the right kind, tuna is a moderate source of calories, which makes it appropriate to include in a weight-loss diet. Your best bets are tuna steak, or tuna canned in water.
Is pasta fattening or good for weight loss?
Pasta is an ultra-processed food product made from refined wheat flour, rich in simple carbohydrates. Frequent consumption of pasta will definitely elevate fat levels in the body. Thus, pasta should be eaten seldom, may be once a week to reduce the risk of over-weight. Having said that, multigrain pasta or millet pasta can be substituted with refined wheat flour pasta for better health status.
How much fat is in a tuna pasta salad?
Healthy Fat – The fat in this recipe is mostly coming from the tuna and avocado. The saturated fat (less ideal fat) is only 2 grams. The remainder is from healthy fat your body loves and keeps you full with. Higher Protein – Each serving is 37 grams of protein which most tuna pasta salad recipes are deficient in.
What is a low calorie tuna pasta salad?
This low calorie tuna pasta salad recipe is higher in protein and made lower in fat without mayonnaise. Compared to traditional tuna pasta salads, this recipe is lower in calories and better balanced in nutrition! It’s a balanced meal with protein, healthy fat and complex carbohydrates.