Taste Test Kitchen: Healthy Pasta Challenge

Remember a few weeks back when I had the pleasure of sitting in on a teleconference with Oprah's health guru, Bob Greene? Well, he's part of a program with Barilla pasta inviting us everyday foodies to take the Barilla Taste Test Challenge. During the interview, I asked him what I think everybody wants to know: how can I find whole grain pasta that tastes as good as the traditional pasta we all know and love? And how do I adjust my palate to whole grain pasta when I grew up on semolina pasta?






As luck would have it, a representative from Dreamfields Pasta reached out to me. She had read my blog post with Bob Greene, and invited me to try their pasta, which is like the traditional white pasta we are used to, but actually has a lower glycemic index. She wanted to prove to me that it's possible to have a white pasta that tastes good and is good for you.

Well, you know me: I love a challenge!


So this week, I decided to take it on: I made a pot of Barilla Whole Grain Thin Spaghetti and a pot of Dreamfields Angel Hair Pasta and served it up to my toughest critics: my hubby, my nine-year-old son and my six-year-old daughter. (In the photo, Barilla is on the left and Dreamfields is on the right.)

THE VERDICT: Dreamfields Pasta won 3 out of 4 votes. Not only does it taste great, but when I look at the health benefits, I'm impressed:

One serving has twice the fiber of regular pasta (5 grams, which equals 20 percent of daily recommended allowance)

it has a lower glycemic index (65 percent lower, in fact) than regular pasta, which makes it a great choice for diabetics

it is made with inulin, a natural prebiotic fiber found in foods such as Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), asparagus, garlic, raisins and chicory root. Inulin is believed to help promote healthy digestion, support a healthy immune system, and improve calcium absorption. It's also a soluble fiber, and this type of fiber is believed to help reduce blood cholesterol and glucose levels.Okay, back to the vote: well, my son was the one dissenting vote. He LOVES the Barilla Whole Grain Pasta. I mean, it really is all a matter of taste.:)

Listen, I'm not getting any kickbacks from Barilla or Dreamfields. I just like to try new things. And when I find something I like, I want to share that news with you. 'Nuff said.

So, if you want to find Dreamfields for yourself, you can check your local supermarket, get it at Amazon.com, or just on their web site, http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/. Let me know what you think!