O.B. Macaroni: Include pasta for good nutrition in a healthy diet and lifestyle

Nutrition And Pasta

CLIMB THE FOOD PYRAMID TO A HEALTHY DIET AND LIFESTYLE

The USDA (U. S. Department of Agriculture) has developed the food pyramid to help Americans select the foods and compose meals that make up a nutritious diet.

The formula is simple. Start at the bottom with 6 to 11 daily servings of Grain-Based foods like Cereal, Bread, Rice, and Pasta. This food group is the strong foundation for a good well-rounded diet.

The next level up is Fruits & Vegetables. Add 2 servings of fruits and 3 of vegetables a day to the grain base and you're on your way.

These two groups have much in common. They are both low in fat and calories, high in complex carbohydrates and full of nutrients.

By combining moderate amounts of Meat, Poultry, and Dairy products to Grains and Fruits & Vegetables, a healthy diet is complete. To round out the picture, watch out for fats and sugar and exercise regularly.

Eat healthy Remember the Grain-Based complex carbohydrates are your foundation and eating 6 to 11 servings daily is quite easy. You may already be doing it. Let's take a look at a day's meals. One serving = 1 slice of bread, ¸ cup cooked cereal, 1 oz. (1/2 - 1 cup) dry cereal, 1/2 cup cooked rice, and 1/2 cup cooked pasta. Have a 1-cup bowl of cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, a nice plate of spaghett and meatballs for dinner with a hard roll and you have reached the goal.

Of all the grain foods, pasta is far and away the most popular today. Once an Italian-only food, it is a major part of American cuisine. Very versatile, there are pasta recipes for main entrees, casseroles, side dishes, and even desserts.

BUILDING PYRAMID-FRIENDLY MEALS FOR ALL AGES IS EASY.

Pasta for Children

Make mealtime a fun time by serving different, interesting shapes ÷ alphabets, animals, wheels, twists. Today, the choices are endless: the Map of Texas, bunnies, flowers, Christmas trees. And don't forget that all time favorite "sketty." Finger foods like O.B. Texas Macaroni and rigatoni are great for toddlers. The easier it is to eat for them, the better it is.
Serve smaller portions to the little ones. Start with a quarter to a half a cup of cooked pasta and offer seconds if you child is still hungry. As they get older, they'll ask for more.
To add nutritional value, top the pasta with chopped meats, mixed vegetables, and any variety of sauces.

Pasta for Adults

To save time in the kitchen, cook twice as much pasta as you need and keep the extra in the refrigerator until it's needed. To reheat cooked pasta, drop it into boiling water for one minute or heat it on High in the microwave for approximately 45 seconds at a time, stirring it to help it heat evenly.
Prepare a main dish pasta based on the Food Pyramid. Start with the pasta base, add some roasted vegetables, and some chicken breast, meat, or seafood. To keep fat under control, have your sauce on the side. There are many very tasty ones out there.
For low-fat eating, look for pasta dishes made with tomato sauce or lightly pour olive oil over the pasta add garlic and a little Parmesan or Romano cheese. Also, several low-fat sauces are available in the cooler at the grocery store.

Pasta for Senior Citizens

As families get smaller, the need to cook less increases. To make a single portion of pasta, use approximately 1/2 cup dry pasta or measure 1/2" diameter of dry long pasta (1 cup or 2 grain servings) cooked). Freeze 1/2 cup portions of favorite sauces and defrost them as needed.
Leftover cooked pasta can be added to soups. If you use dry, uncooked pasta, simmer the soup for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. The pasta should be cooked properly in that time.
Top pasta with leftover cooked vegetables, ground meat, chicken, or seafood.
BE CREATIVE. Let your imagination go and eat nutritious pasta in recipes of your own making, using your favorite foods.

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