You guys, I found pasta that's GASP....HEALTHY!
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Thread demonizing pasta turns into thread talking about how to make yummy, yummy home-made pasta, and yummy foods with pasta.
Some days, I just gotta love MPF. :flowerforyou:23 -
I've tried the black bean, soya and edamame noodles from Aldi and personally didn't like the texture but my bf loves it.
I've seen edamame pasta in both ASDA and Costco.
Id eat it more if the texture was better because ratio of fibre and protein to carbs is much much higher Than regular pasta so It fits better in my calorie allowance.
Personally red lentil pasta is my favourite it's really cheap from morrisons and although not massively high in protein and fiber like soy it tastes great and still has more than double the protein and fiber than wholewheat pasta for the same calories. Morrisons also does pea pasta too.
I really don't know why the OP got so much abuse, the composition of basic pasta is far different than these alternatives and for those like myself who are on low calorie diets it's nice to have an alternative. I usually eat legumes and veggies and choose my grains carefully as for me the calories are too high in things like basic pasta for the serving size and amount of fiber and protein you get.
Stuff like "alternative faux food" and claims that something with the same calories but fewer protein/fiber grams is "just as nutritious" are not abuse. They're just people being laughable about their personal preferences and prejudices.
So laughing is the right response, if you ask me, not feeling abused and beleaguered.paperpudding wrote: »
(snip other sensible stuff, for reply length)
So people can discuss traditional pasta and alternatives with various pros and cons and no need for hyperbole.
Yup, preferably on all sides. 3 -
So OP did not get "abused," and I would also disagree that the responses were "laughable." Let's remember that the title of this thread is "I found pasta that's-gasp!--healthy" (my punctuation edits for clarity's sake).
The implication of that, to me, is that pasta is not normally healthy (and the subtext perhaps is "should be avoided").
So -- gasp! -- many people posted that traditional pasta (which is often demonized) is, indeed, already plenty healthy.
In connection with that, many people noted that it's pretty unusual to eat pasta on its own, and instead it is typically eaten in a mixed dish -- also called "pasta" -- that can include whatever nutrients one wants. I pretty much never made pasta that does not include a source of protein and lots of vegetables, for example.
If one is short of protein, or one needs to bulk up the protein in a dish from the noodles themselves (vs. the foods eaten as part of the overall pasta dish), then sure, it might be helpful to have some higher protein pasta. (Personally I've tried and liked chickpea pasta, haven't been impressed with the red lentil I bought but will try it again since I might have overcooked it.)
Similarly, if one is low on fiber or simply wants more fiber, having a higher fiber noodle might be helpful, sure. But not everyone is going to feel like they need to or want to rely on their dinner starches for more than a bit of fiber (potatoes are pretty low fiber, and I don't care or consider them not nutritious; I also note that some fruits are a lot lower fiber than some others, but I don't make it a point to only eat the highest fiber ones).
The bigger point is that traditional pasta is not "unhealthy" so the expression of seeming shock at finding one that is "healthy" is going to lead to comment, as is the apparent assumption that we all agree that pasta is a dish to be avoided (except now there's this new product!).
Also, the marketing for this product is absurd. Not only the "it's vegan" that was noted above (when dried semolina pasta is normally just flour and water for the ingredients), but also on amazon, at least, it brags that it lacks 125 different additives, again which are not normally in the pastas I buy. So I do think the post was a reflection of the marketing and stems from some idea (false) that traditional dried pasta at the store is some kind of super unhealthy product with loads of bad stuff, when in reality it's just flour.
The only real issue here is wheat vs. soy? Personally, I'm fine with both, and would try this if I happened upon it, but no, I don't think that in all cases soy is superior to wheat, even refined wheat flour made into pasta. But then I -- like many people -- find pasta a quite enjoyable base for other foods. It's similar to how I don't think rice is unhealthy just because I could decide to eat everything I now eat on rice on lentils, which have more protein and fiber.
IMO, as someone not usually low on protein and fiber, is that the nutritional differences in pasta dishes is often going to have much more to do with the other ingredients in the dish and not the noodles.15 -
The only real issue here is wheat vs. soy? Personally, I'm fine with both, and would try this if I happened upon it, but no, I don't think that in all cases soy is superior to wheat, even refined wheat flour made into pasta. But then I -- like many people -- find pasta a quite enjoyable base for other foods. It's similar to how I don't think rice is unhealthy just because I could decide to eat everything I now eat on rice on lentils, which have more protein and fiber.
I am one who has been advised to limit my soy. The phytoestrogens in it causes benign cysts to form in my breast. Haven't tried it since menopause so maybe I will be OK now but I really don't feel like experimenting, especially because when the cysts formed, I needed mammograms and ultrasounds every 6 months. Started to limit soy and the cysts went away. I am just fine with wheat.
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So OP did not get "abused," and I would also disagree that the responses were "laughable." Let's remember that the title of this thread is "I found pasta that's-gasp!--healthy"
(snip)
This will be one of those cases where we disagree.
I agree with most of your post. I agree that most responses were entirely reasonable. Pasta, including white, refined wheat pasta, is a fine thing to eat, though as usual I'd be looking at context and dosage (for either pasta).
Implying that soy pasta is an "alternative faux food" is laughable, IMO. Soy flour made into shapes is no more a faux food than wheat flour made into shapes. It's food, with pluses and minuses.
That was about as close to "abusive" as anything I saw (ETA I don't think it is abusive, either), and it's as hyperbolic (so as laughable) IMO as the over-dramatic OP and some subsequent responses ("soy is poison" "white pasta is a simple carb", etc.) that I'd also call laughable.
JMO, as always.4 -
So OP did not get "abused," and I would also disagree that the responses were "laughable." Let's remember that the title of this thread is "I found pasta that's-gasp!--healthy"
(snip)
This will be one of those cases where we disagree.
I agree with most of your post. I agree that most responses were entirely reasonable. Pasta, including white, refined wheat pasta, is a fine thing to eat, though as usual I'd be looking at context and dosage (for either pasta).
Implying that soy pasta is an "alternative faux food" is laughable, IMO. Soy flour made into shapes is no more a faux food than wheat flour made into shapes. It's food, with pluses and minuses.
That was about as close to "abusive" as anything I saw (ETA I don't think it is abusive, either), and it's as hyperbolic (so as laughable) IMO as the over-dramatic OP and some subsequent responses ("soy is poison" "white pasta is a simple carb", etc.) that I'd also call laughable.
JMO, as always.
Sure, I agree with you about the bolded, as I think my comments have made clear.
Where we disagree, if at all, is that I don't think that's the upshot of the comments OP got. Most of them were "why do you think traditional pasta is unhealthy?" Which is obviously not "laughable" IMO.
Btw, this was OP's comment, on page 1, before anyone said anything negative about the product she was promoting:DedDollChance wrote: »Regular pasta made with bleached enriched flour is flat out junk. It's not a complex carbohydrate and is nothing more than a "filler upper" that breaks down into SIMPLE SUGARS. This means you will not stay as satiated for as long. Hate on me if you'd like, I won't be posting anything else. I didn't come here to be talked down to or have things assumed about me.. Good luck everyone.6 -
So OP did not get "abused," and I would also disagree that the responses were "laughable." Let's remember that the title of this thread is "I found pasta that's-gasp!--healthy"
(snip)
This will be one of those cases where we disagree.
I agree with most of your post. I agree that most responses were entirely reasonable. Pasta, including white, refined wheat pasta, is a fine thing to eat, though as usual I'd be looking at context and dosage (for either pasta).
Implying that soy pasta is an "alternative faux food" is laughable, IMO. Soy flour made into shapes is no more a faux food than wheat flour made into shapes. It's food, with pluses and minuses.
That was about as close to "abusive" as anything I saw (ETA I don't think it is abusive, either), and it's as hyperbolic (so as laughable) IMO as the over-dramatic OP and some subsequent responses ("soy is poison" "white pasta is a simple carb", etc.) that I'd also call laughable.
JMO, as always.
Sure, I agree with you about the bolded, as I think my comments have made clear.
Where we disagree, if at all, is that I don't think that's the upshot of the comments OP got. Most of them were "why do you think traditional pasta is unhealthy?" Which is obviously not "laughable" IMO.
Btw, this was OP's comment, on page 1, before anyone said anything negative about the product she was promoting:DedDollChance wrote: »Regular pasta made with bleached enriched flour is flat out junk. It's not a complex carbohydrate and is nothing more than a "filler upper" that breaks down into SIMPLE SUGARS. This means you will not stay as satiated for as long. Hate on me if you'd like, I won't be posting anything else. I didn't come here to be talked down to or have things assumed about me.. Good luck everyone.
Then we don't disagree at all . . . I think.
I didn't say all of the responses were laughable. What I said was "Stuff like "alternative faux food" and claims that something with the same calories but fewer protein/fiber grams is "just as nutritious" are not abuse. They're just people being laughable about their personal preferences and prejudices." Only those things laughable, on that side of the argument, and not "abuse". Lots of things laughably inaccurate on the other side of the argument, also (including the "complex carb"/"simple sugars" thing you quoted.
I disputed that "not a complex carbohydrate" post, and the satiation thing, in detail.
My larger intended point is that it's more appropriate to laugh at hyperbole, not feel abused.5 -
Whole wheat pasta, chicken breast, hot rotel tomato and chicken broth for dinner tonight. Yummm.4
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »What's unhealthy about traditional pasta?
High carb without protein. For some people that will cause t2 diabetes in the long run, even whole wheat pasta. It can cause high triglycerides too that will after that increase LDL. Not everybody has those responses, I think it's about 40% of the population. If your blood lipids and glucose are fine, then you're part of those who are not affected. Enjoy!3 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »What's unhealthy about traditional pasta?
High carb without protein. For some people that will cause t2 diabetes in the long run, even whole wheat pasta. It can cause high triglycerides too that will after that increase LDL. Not everybody has those responses, I think it's about 40% of the population. If your blood lipids and glucose are fine, then you're part of those who are not affected. Enjoy!
Really? How? Where is the science to back this up? Thanks.
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »What's unhealthy about traditional pasta?
High carb without protein. For some people that will cause t2 diabetes in the long run, even whole wheat pasta. It can cause high triglycerides too that will after that increase LDL. Not everybody has those responses, I think it's about 40% of the population. If your blood lipids and glucose are fine, then you're part of those who are not affected. Enjoy!
Even if that were true (and im not saying it is), it would only apply if you eat nothing but pasta. If you are eating a calorie controlled, balanced diet, whether you have semolina pasta or black bean pasta every Tuesday night with your meatballs isn't going to determine whether you have high LDL or diabetes or not.13 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »What's unhealthy about traditional pasta?
High carb without protein. For some people that will cause t2 diabetes in the long run, even whole wheat pasta. It can cause high triglycerides too that will after that increase LDL. Not everybody has those responses, I think it's about 40% of the population. If your blood lipids and glucose are fine, then you're part of those who are not affected. Enjoy!
T2Dm is caused by:- Genetics
- Excess weight
- Long term use of some medications (statins and antidepressants the most common)
- Age
- Having a mother who had gestational diabetes while pregnant with the person
- Other possible but not proven reasons such as environmental, childhood cancer treatments, etc. that can interrupt the function of the pancreas
What you eat is not a cause. How much you eat overall, which can result in weight gain, IS a cause.10 -
Re no 3 - am not aware of such a connection.
But I would think the biggest medication factor would be long term use of prednisilone.0 -
paperpudding wrote: »Re no 3 - am not aware of such a connection.
But I would think the biggest medication factor would be long term use of prednisilone.
My Psy D is the one who brought that up re: antidepressants. She has seen it in her practice and it is on the warning literature of many SSRI's as a risk factor. Same with statins.
I will correct myself on one thing. I should have said that the list is "Risk Factors" not "Causes". Diabetes (both T1Dm and T2Dm) is caused by the body's inability to handle the glucose in the blood stream. The actual mechanism determines if it is T1 or T2.0 -
Didn't read all the back and forth.. came here to say.. I AM OBSESSED with this pasta too! I've been eating it ~3x a week for a few months now. I enjoy it served like traditional pasta with marinara sauce, or in a variety of other/more creative ways. Right now I'm eating it plain on top of a giant salad as my protein source. I'm vegan and love the protein this packs. I understand many of you enjoy regular pasta, and it should not be demonized, but I agree that this is a great replacement because it has so much more protein! I'm surprised anyone doesn't enjoy the taste. Doesn't really taste like anything distinct, pretty plain (and very filling). Just my two cents.5
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Didn't read all the back and forth.. came here to say.. I AM OBSESSED with this pasta too! I've been eating it ~3x a week for a few months now. I enjoy it served like traditional pasta with marinara sauce, or in a variety of other/more creative ways. Right now I'm eating it plain on top of a giant salad as my protein source. I'm vegan and love the protein this packs. I understand many of you enjoy regular pasta, and it should not be demonized, but I agree that this is a great replacement because it has so much more protein! I'm surprised anyone doesn't enjoy the taste. Doesn't really taste like anything distinct, pretty plain (and very filling). Just my two cents.
Do you think it is similar to traditional pasta taste and texture-wise?0 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »What's unhealthy about traditional pasta?
High carb without protein. For some people that will cause t2 diabetes in the long run, even whole wheat pasta. It can cause high triglycerides too that will after that increase LDL. Not everybody has those responses, I think it's about 40% of the population. If your blood lipids and glucose are fine, then you're part of those who are not affected. Enjoy!
So I agree with what everyone else said, but this is why the "it's obviously better" thing drives me nuts.
I have never in my life consumed plain pasta. I like pasta, but eating it plain doesn't appeal to me, and I seriously doubt the consumption of plain pasta plays a role in overeating for the vast majority of people. Years ago (as a child) I used to eat egg noodles with butter, but even that does not appeal to me anymore.
As an adult, I pretty much always have pasta with protein (if I'm eating without animal products, I add beans) and vegetables. So given that, claiming that pasta on its own is not that nutritionally beneficial seems rather beside the point. A meal including pasta can be extremely nutrient dense, and if the pasta is part of what makes the meal enjoyable, that the pasta on its own wouldn't be a great meal doesn't really matter or make the meal unhealthy.
There are always possible substitutes for components in a meal that have more protein or fiber, but I don't think that's a good reason to say that those components are bad and should be replaced.9 -
Enough with the discussion. More food porn
Tonight's dinner:
13 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »What's unhealthy about traditional pasta?
High carb without protein. For some people that will cause t2 diabetes in the long run, even whole wheat pasta. It can cause high triglycerides too that will after that increase LDL. Not everybody has those responses, I think it's about 40% of the population. If your blood lipids and glucose are fine, then you're part of those who are not affected. Enjoy!
But no one is suggesting people eat just pasta and no protein sources.
Bananas are high carb / low protein - are you suggesting bananas have no place in a balanced diet either?9 -
Didn't read all the back and forth.. came here to say.. I AM OBSESSED with this pasta too! I've been eating it ~3x a week for a few months now. I enjoy it served like traditional pasta with marinara sauce, or in a variety of other/more creative ways. Right now I'm eating it plain on top of a giant salad as my protein source. I'm vegan and love the protein this packs. I understand many of you enjoy regular pasta, and it should not be demonized, but I agree that this is a great replacement because it has so much more protein! I'm surprised anyone doesn't enjoy the taste. Doesn't really taste like anything distinct, pretty plain (and very filling). Just my two cents.
Do you think it is similar to traditional pasta taste and texture-wise?
Not really.. it's chewier and not as soft. The taste is pretty plain but I guess it also has a bit of a black bean taste. The same brand makes an edamame version that has even less taste though, with very similar nutrition profile. I don't eat much traditional pasta anymore so it's hard for to compare.0
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