Ingredients

• 2 TBSP olive oil divided
• 2 medium Sweet Potatoes, cooked & mashed (about 2 cups)
• 6 cups Whole Wheat Pasta (rotini in pic)
• 2 cups chopped kale, stems removed
• 1 tsp paprika
• ¾ tsp salt
• 3 TBSP chopped parsley
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 TBSP Italian seasoning 
• 3 eggs
• ¼ cup low fat milk
• 1 ¼ cups shredded mozzarella (or cheese of choice) and a handful more for topping.

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Coat the inside of a large casserole dish with olive oil or butter.
3. Prepare pasta according to package directions (but keep al dente).
4. While pasta is cooking, saute kale in olive oil with spices for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly wilted.
5. Drain cooked pasta and let cool for 5 minutes.
6. Once cooled, add pasta, mashed sweet potatoes, spices, and kale to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
7. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and cheese, and add to pasta and sweet potato mixture.
8. Mix well and pour into a large casserole dish, reserving extra cheese to sprinkle on top.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the top begins to brown.

Tips Remember not to overcook the pasta since it will further cook during baking. To increase the protein content try switching the whole wheat pasta for garbanzo bean pasta or lentil pasta.

Prep time 10 minutes
Cooks in 30 minutes (sweet potatoes)
Serves 4
Calorie 654kcal; Carbohydrates 97g; Protein  29g; Fat 20g; Fiber 4g
Created by Bucket List Tummy

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​Have you ever heard someone say they have a “slipped disc”, their “back went out”, or they have a “pinched nerve”? These concepts are often referring to a condition called a “disc lesion”. Today we are going to cover everything you need to know about lumbar (low back) disc lesions!
 
Your spine consists of 24 individual vertebrae stacked on top of each other, with flexible cushions called "discs" between each set of vertebrae. A disc is made up of two basic components: The inner disc, or “nucleus”, and the outer disc, or “annulus”. The term lumbar disc lesion means the disc has been damaged.
 
Disc lesions start when the outer fibers of the disc become strained. When enough outer fibers becomes strained, this can create a weak spot in the disc. When the disc is compressed after developing a weak spot, the outer fibers may "bulge" or "protrude". If enough fibers are damaged, the nucleus of the disc may "herniate" outward. Since the spinal cord and nerve roots live directly behind the disc, bulges that are accompanied by inflammation can create lower back pain. Too much inflammation can cause you to feel that pain in the buttock or the entire lower extremity, which is a condition called sciatica. If the disc bulge is significant enough to create a mechanical compression of your nerve, you may also experience loss of your reflexes and weakness. If you notice progressive weakness or numbness, any numbness around your groin, any loss of bowel or bladder control, or fever, please contact our office immediately. These symptoms mean condition has progressed to a serious level that needs addressed by a healthcare professional!