Pasta is a perfect foundation for healthy, nutritious and satisfying meals!

Pasta holsters numerous qualities indispensable to one’s well-balanced diet. It is part of current dietary guidelines which call for up to 65% of daily calories to come from carbohydrates. In addition, per cup, pasta provides a good source of essential nutrients such as iron and B-vitamins, and whole-wheat pasta can provide up to 25% of daily fiber requirements in every serving. Pasta is also very low in sodium and non-egg varieties are cholesterol-free.

According to US Dept of Agriculture, a ½ cup serving of cooked pasta (spaghetti) contains a mere 99 calories, less than half a gram of fat and less than 5 milligrams of sodium. And as a carbohydrate, it is a primary source of glucose for the body, which is the main fuel or energy source for the brain, red blood cells, muscle and organs. It is a key ingredient in an eating pattern that promotes healthy longevity.

Mixed with other ingredients such as vegetables, olive oil, tomato sauce, beans, nuts, and lean cuts of poultry, meat, fish and shellfish, Pasta becomes a meal, slowing digestion and absorption of blood glucose while providing essential nutrients such as fiber, protein and vitamins.