For a lot of people, pasta is an easy go-to meal, but that doesn’t mean it has to be unhealthy. Most conventional store-bought pasta is filled with artificial ingredients, so we’ve decided to figure out what makes a good, healthy pasta. While researching, we found that the best pastas are made from just a few whole ingredients and feature nutrient-packed bases like beans or whole grains.
They cater to personal dietary restrictions and have a balanced macronutrient profile. Keeping these things in mind, we’ve handpicked our favorite healthy pastas, including Explore Cuisine's Edamame Spaghetti. We also prepared a buying guide with tips from a certified nutritionist if you want to pick your own, so check it out below.
Kara Swanson is a certified nutritionist and the founder of Life Well Lived. She is married to her best friend and the proud mother of three. Her passion is to make nutrition simple+easy+delicious!
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
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Luckily, there are a ton of other pastas available now that are made from more healthful options such as whole wheat, quinoa, spelt, and buckwheat. Do note, however, that texture and taste might differ slightly from type to type, but that’s just part of the fun! Read our product descriptions for specific examples.
Time to ditch the refined white pasta for something heartier and healthier for you. Pasta isn't bad for you, and I'm sure all the carb lovers are excited about that, but not all pasta is created equal. Make sure you grab a pasta that is whole-wheat or even better, a bean-based pasta.
If possible, try to also avoid pasta with the word "enriched" in the ingredients list. This means that the pasta is refined–it will have more calories and less of a nutrient profile. Usually, this also means less fibers, which, in turn, means that you will feel less full after eating it, which may cause you to eat more amounts of it.
You should also look for pastas with at least two grams of fiber and as close to zero grams of sodium as you can get. This will help you feel fuller when eating it, and, since salt is usually a part of the cooking process, you'll be able to adjust the amount of sodium intake you get.
Get in the habit of reading labels because not all pastas are healthy for you. Make sure to grab a pasta that has minimal ingredients and is free from artificial ingredients. One of the reasons pasta gets a bad rep is that it really doesn't have any nutritional value, which is why it's important to grab one that isn't stripped of it's nutrients and avoid white pasta.
Half the time we eat pasta, we’re basically just eating noodles and sauce. But as most traditional pastas are high in carbs and low on everything else, that makes for a pretty unbalanced meal. Meals that are too high in carbs tend to give you energy spikes and don’t fill you up for very long.
So, for the sake of your satiety and energy levels, it might make sense to look for a pasta that has a more even balance of carbs, protein, and fat. For reference, the Food and Nutrition Board recommends that adults get 45 – 65% of their calories from carbs, 10 – 35% from protein, and 20 – 35% from fat.
On the other hand, if you’re watching your carb intake, there are also pastas that cater to low-carb diets.
Our bodies run on carbs so carbs are not the enemy. But make sure you're consuming something else with your bowl of pasta. Add in some veggies or beans for some added fiber and protein. Get creative or find a new recipe to switch up your usual pasta and pasta sauce routine.
If you have a serious gluten allergy, it’s especially important to look for the official certification as many pastas that “contain no gluten” may still be processed on machines that have been used to process gluten for other products.
Thankfully, it's super easy to find a pasta no matter what dietary restrictions or allergies you have. You can easily find a gluten-free, vegan, or low-carb pasta on the shelves in almost any grocery store. Make sure to read the labels to determine if it fits your needs.
To bulk up my salads, I love adding a little bit of pasta for some whole grains. It adds some texture to my salads and I love the flavor it brings with all the veggies. Plus, it keeps my salads from getting boring!
What you consume has a huge effect on your mood, energy level, and appearance. If you want to feel and look your best, consider swapping out some of the overly processed foods in your kitchen for some more healthful options.
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