Pasta and Cereal Choices

Question
Hello George,

My husband and I love pasta, and I am happy that there are
healthier pasta choices out there on the market nowadays.

I have been buying Barilla Plus, the enriched "nutritional" pasta? I
like it because my husband and I don't eat too much meat, and I
like the extra protein and Omega-3. My question is: do you
think this pasta is as wise a choice as buying a whole wheat
pasta, which tends to be higher fiber? Is it healthier to eat the
enriched stuff, or the whole wheat stuff?

I also wonder this same thing about breakfast cereal. Is it better
to have the cereal with all the extra vitamins and minerals, or
better to have the extra fiber? I notice that the big name cereals
(like Kellogs, etc) have more daily requirements of things, but
that the Kashi and Whole Foods cereals have far more fiber.

I appreciate it. Thanks!

Answer
Hello Katy!

   Thank you for your nutrition question. Whole grain products such as Kashi and whole food products are healthier choices then enriched products because they contain more fiber. We need 25 grams of fiber daily.
  The reason enriched is not as good is that after the refinery takes the grains apart and makes white flour, which has no nutrition, they add some vitamins, some minerals, and some fiber, but not even a gram worth. The enriched pasta is enriched with some of the very things they just worked so hard to take out. However, they do not add in as much of the grain they take away, otherwise it would be whole grain. Just enough to add some flavor and calories to it.

For more answers to your nutrition questions check out "Ask the Nutritionists" by George Rapitis at www.authorhouse.com

-George Rapitis, Bsc. Nutritionist
www.juiceblend.com

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