When asked what my favorite food is, my answer is always the same – Pasta! I love the variety of noodle types and ways it can be prepared. From pasta salad as a cold dish in the summer to warm chicken noodle soup in the fall and winter, pasta can be enjoyed at any time of the year!
Looking throughout history, it seems I am not alone in this love. Depictions of individuals making and eating pasta have been found all over the world, and in many different cultures. Artwork in a 4th century B.C. Etruscan tomb shows a group making a pasta-like food. Across the continent, people in ancient China were also making noodles around the same time as the Etruscans. Early colonists brought noodle-making to America, where they would cover their cooked noodles with cheese or a cream sauce.
Today, there are many alternatives to try in place of the commonly used noodle made of durum wheat. One popular method is making noodles from vegetables such as zucchini, summer squash, or spaghetti squash. These veggie noodles are created using a spiralizer or vegetable peeler and can have a similar shape and texture to traditional noodles, but are lower in carbohydrates and calories. They are also a great way to include more vegetables in your diet!
Another alternative pasta includes chickpea noodles. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are a type of legume called pulses – great sources of protein, fiber, and many vitamins and minerals. According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, pulses are considered to be in both the “vegetable group” as well as the “protein group.” Pasta made from chickpeas generally does not contain wheat flour and is often compatible with special diets such as gluten-free, low carb, and vegetarian.
Pasta dishes can be a way to bring more whole grains into your diet as well. Many common pasta shapes are also available in whole wheat options. When looking at pasta packages in your local grocery store, look out for the whole grain stamp. This yellow stamp on the box will tell you if the noodles inside contain at least half a serving of whole grains.
When making pasta for your next dinner, be sure to pair your noodles with healthier sauces, herbs, and vegetables. Visit the Celebrate Your Plate website for some great recipes and ideas.
What pasta dishes are your family’s favorites?
Written by: Jessica Lowe, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Pickaway County, lowe.495@osu.edu
Reviewed by: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County
Sources:
Celebrate Your Plate (2022). Recipes. https://celebrateyourplate.org/recipes?query=pasta
Garden-Robinson, J. (2017). Pulses: The Perfect Food. Northern Pulse Growers Association. https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/sites/default/files/2022-07/fn1508.pdf
Meehan, A. (2017). Oodles of Zoodles. Live Smart Ohio. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/food/meehan-89osu-edu/oodles-of-zoodles/
National Pasta Association (n.d.). History of Pasta. https://sharethepasta.org/pasta-101/pasta-iq/history-of-pasta/
Oldways Whole Grains Council (n.d.). Identifying Whole Grains. https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/identifying-whole-grain-products
Wheat Foods Council (n.d.). Classes of Wheat. http://wheatfoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/6classes.pdf
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