Nutrition

The Italian diet happens to be one of the healthiest in the world.
Eat & live well the Italian way!

The nonstop marketing efforts of numerous carbohydrate diets have many people swearing off pasta and running from bread. In reality, carbohydrates are an essential macronutrient that provides you with the energy you need and a critical nutrient for your nervous system. Rediscover the wonderful health benefits of pasta in combination with fibrous carbohydrates and delicious lean proteins. Simply put, learn to eat the Italian way for a well-balanced approach to pasta!

Anyone who has traveled in Italy knows that the Italian lifestyle is defined by a love of good food, a passion for flavor and a vibrant lifestyle. But you don't have to vacation in Rome to live "la dolce vita"-eating and living Italian style is a way of life that can be enjoyed anywhere, all year-round.

Though Italian culture emphasizes eating for enjoyment (notice you don't meet many Italians on fad diets?), the Italian diet also happens to be one of the healthiest in the world; incorporating fresh, wholesome foods that are rich in nutrients and low in unhealthy fats.

To help guide people on how to eat and live like an Italian, Barilla-the Italian food brand-partnered with a team of nutritionists to create a new model that demonstrates the Italian way of eating, as well as the various components that go into creating a perfectly balanced pasta meal. It's also worth noting that this model of eating fits well within the parameters of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the My Pyramid Food Guidance system, so anyone who considers Italian to be their favorite cuisine can feel good about eating the Italian way while benefiting from a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Sure, there are still people who think of pasta as fettuccine smothered in fat-laden cream sauce. But traditional pasta meals are fresh, light and easy to put together with nutritious, seasonal ingredients. Pasta is a perfect delivery system to get many healthy foods in your diet-such as a variety of colorful vegetables, tomato sauce, olive oil, fish and lean cuts of poultry. And pasta is low in sodium and cholesterol-free, as well as a good source of thiamine, folic acid, iron, riboflavin and niacin.

Pasta also ranks among children's favorite foods-especially when they can help prepare the meal. "Cooking pasta together is an easy way to get your family eating and communicating better," said Lynn Fredericks, author of Cooking Time is Family Time. "Let kids choose the pasta shape, help chop vegetables, set the table-cooking is a lot more fun when everyone pitches in."

Start experimenting with different variations on pasta meals to keep dinnertime interesting and healthy. For starters, try these recipes for typical Italian dishes that offer exceptional taste and nutrition. For many more authentic pasta meal recipes as well as tips on eating, cooking and living the Italian way, visit the new Barilla America website at www.barillaus.com.

Pete Piranio, BS, CSC, Owner of Fitness Together and Piranio Fitness Systems, Inc is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

For more information, check our www.fitnesstogether.net.

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