April Sins, Retail Registered Dietitian with Rouses Markets, joined News15 at Noon for National Pasta Month! She shows us the benefits of pasta and demonstrates an easy minestrone soup recipe!
April Sins, Retail Registered Dietitian with Rouses Markets, joined News15 at Noon for National Pasta Month! She shows us the benefits of pasta and demonstrates an easy minestrone soup recipe!
Budget-friendly meals:
Pasta is perfect for budget-friendly meals. It’s affordable and boasts a
lengthy shelf-life, so you can keep pasta on hand to use as an entrée or
a side.
Kids:
Pasta is a perfect delivery system for healthy foods. Vary the shapes
and offer fun ways to introduce new nutrient-dense foods like fiber-rich
veggies, lean meats, and fish. There are more ways to make kid-friendly
pasta meals than just traditional favorites of mac and cheese or
spaghetti and meatballs.
Brain-boosting meals:
Pump up Mediterranean pasta dishes. A recent study published in
Neurology®, found that older people who followed a Mediterranean
diet retained a greater brain health over a three-year period than those
who did not follow the diet as closely.
Athletes:
Carbohydrates provide energy for your body; and for athletes, diet is
just as important as training which is why experts suggest
carbohydrates make up 55-65% of an elite athlete’s diet. In addition to
eating properly before you work out, dietitians recommend eating
proteins and carbs after a workout too, to help with muscle recovery.
Dinner for one:
Pasta is great for single servings! Cook a batch, then freeze single-serve
portions and simply thaw, using warm water.
Dinner for the family:
Studies show the importance of family dinners. For your next family
dinner, pasta can give you so many different options! Tip! Double the
recipe, serve one, then store the other in your freezer for a later time,
when time is tight.
*Information from the National Pasta Association
Recipe: Minestrone Soup
