Noodles

Shirataki noodles are made from konjac root, a plant grown in Southeast Asia, and they're the closest thing to a free pass in a low carb kitchen: close to zero net carbs, very few calories, and a decent bit of fibre. They're also gluten-free and vegan, which helps when you're cooking for a mixed table.

The brands here are Better Than Foods, nuPasta and Skinny Pasta. Better Than Foods makes organic konjac spaghetti, penne and Thai style noodles, plus a non-drain line with ramen and angel hair that skips the rinsing step. nuPasta's low calorie, high fibre konjac noodles come in angel hair and fettuccine, by the pack or in a box of eight.

On their own they taste of nothing, which is the point. Rinse them well, dry fry them for a minute to firm up the texture, then toss with a sauce from our Pasta Sauce collection. Give a bolognese a go, it holds up.