When I was a kid, we always vacationed at the Jersey shore. Every summer we’d go to a fantastic little Italian restaurant. Not only did they have the most incredible rolls and meatballs, they had a fettuccine dish that was out of this world. Now I realize it was probably just pasta with tons of butter and tons of melted cheese. I loved it so much, but it probably contributed significantly to my weight gain. When I threw this breakfast together one morning as I was running out the door, the gooey cheese surrounding the fluffy eggs reminded me of that fave from my past. But the good news is that this version won’t cause nearly the damage.

　　

Ingredients

makes 1 serving

　　Olive oil spray

　　4 large egg whites

　　1 ounce (about 1/4 cup) reduced-fat finely shredded Italian cheese blend or mozzarella cheese (I used Sargento Shredded Reduced-Fat Four-Cheese Italian Blend)

　　Pepper, to taste (optional)

　　

Microwave Instructions

Step 1

Lightly mist a small microwave-safe bowl with spray. Add the egg whites and microwave for 30 seconds on low. Continue microwaving them in 30-second intervals until they are just a bit runny on top. Then, using a fork, stir them to break into large “scrambled” pieces. By the time you “scramble” and stir them, the residual heat should have cooked away the runniness. If they are still undercooked, microwave them in 10-second intervals until no liquid remains.

　　

Step 2

Wait about 10 seconds after cooking to make sure the eggs are completely cooked and no moisture remains. Stir the cheese into the eggs until the cheese is well combined and melted. Season with pepper, if desired. Serve immediately.

　　

Stovetop Instructions

Step 3

Follow the directions above, but instead of microwaving the egg whites, simply scramble them in a nonstick skillet lightly misted with spray over medium heat.

　　

nutrition information

Step 4

Calories: 147

　　

Step 5

Protein: 23g

　　

Step 6

Carbohydrates: 2g

　　

Step 7

Fat: 5g

　　

Step 8

Saturated Fat: 3g

　　

Step 9

Cholesterol: 15mg

　　

Step 10

Fiber: 0g

　　

Step 11

Sodium: 445mg

　　Reprinted with permission from I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening! by Devin Alexander. Copyright © 2010 Devin Alexander. Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Devin Alexander is the author of The Most Decadent Diet Ever, Fast Food Fix, and coauthor of The New York Times bestsellers The Biggest Loser Cookbook and The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. She was a chef on NBC's The Biggest Loser and the host of Healthy Decadence on Discover Health and FitTV.