Pasta Myth-Busters!

WILL PASTA MAKE YOU FAT?
Myth-Buster: No. Pasta will not make you fat. Excess calories create excess fat, not healthful portions of pasta. Pasta is a good complex carbohydrate food and an ideal foundation for a nutritious meal. Choose nutrient-rich pasta additions that are high in fiber or protein and low in unhealthy fats, such as fresh herbs, vegetables, beans, and lean protein, to make it extra satisfying while keeping calories in check.

ARE RESTAURANT PASTA PORTIONS THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT TO EAT?
Myth-Buster: Typically, no. Many restaurants tend to serve extra-large portions that can easily lead to overindulging. Pasta is best in a healthful portion. A right-sized portion is one to two cups of cooked pasta. That's approximately the size of one or two baseballs—which is quite satisfying. If you're dining at a restaurant, aim to take about half of your dish home to enjoy for lunch the next day.

CAN PASTA REALLY BE PART OF A HEALTHY DIET?
Myth-Buster: Yes. Pasta is part of a healthy diet. In fact, pasta is included in the foundation of the Mediterranean Diet. In Italy, pasta is eaten regularly as part of this style of eating, which nutritionists, including myself, consider to be one of the world's healthiest ways to eat. That's because it's characterized by high consumption of plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and grains and lower consumption of red meats and sweets.

WILL PASTA MAKE YOU FEEL SLUGGISH AND TIRED AFTER EATING IT?
Myth-Buster: No. In fact, pasta helps keep you full. Cooking pasta 'al dente' (still slightly firm) allows you to reap the full benefits of pasta's already strong ability to increase satiety, delaying hunger pains and providing fuel for working muscles long after meals.

DO YOU CONSIDER PASTA A SUSTAINABLE FOOD?
Myth-Buster: Yes. Pasta is good for you and the planet. Plant based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grain-rich foods, like pasta, have the smallest environmental impact because they take less energy, water, and land resources to produce than foods like meats.

The bottom line: Pasta is beneficial for our bodies. It tastes great while providing a culinary vehicle in which to incorporate more nutrient-rich foods, like vegetables, into your eating plan. What's more, for bonus nutrition, you can prepare whole-grain, veggie-based, or other nutrient-rich pasta varieties, like Barilla Multi Grain PLUS® pasta which is a good source of protein, fiber, and ALA omega-3 fats. Find a pasta recipe perfect for your palate at thedailymeal.com, Barilla.com, or on Jackie Newgent's recipe blog, Tasteovers by Jackie.