Diet Food Reviews
Ronzoni Smart Taste Rotini
By: | Aug 13, 2009
(Photo Credit: Gudlyf)
As a runner, it's very important that I consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates in order to train effectively. I've always been disheartened by the small serving size and relatively high calorie content of pasta - but I do love that it's one of the easiest meals to prepare. After checking out the whole grain high fiber pastas that have been hitting the shelves lately, I decided to investigate to see if these would hold me over a bit better than conventional pastas.
I tested out Ronzoni Smart Taste Rotini with marinara sauce and some broccoli to amp it up a bit. The pasta had a nice nutty taste, much like brown rice, and seemed to cook up a bit more al dente than regular white pasta. Even though the 2 ounce serving still seemed somewhat skimpy on my plate, I was still pleasantly full for hours after the meal, which is a good thing!
Each (2 ounce) serving of Ronzoni Smart Taste Rotini provides 180 calories (20 calories less than the Barilla Whole Grain Rotini), 1 gram of fat, 6 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber. Not too shabby at all.
I purchased this box of pasta on sale for $1.00 at my local grocer, which is about the same price as regular ole spaghetti. It regularly retails for $1.99 a box, but for the extra buck, I think it is well worth it and this will be on my grocery list in the future.
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I'm all about the flava! It sounds like a winner.
I've been buying the Ronzoni Smart Taste products (penne, spaghetti, elbows, etc.) almost exclusively for a few years now. I tried a few brands of the whole grain stuff, and we all found it a bit too chewy for our tastes, so this is a pretty good compromise. Barilla's competing brand (I suppose) is called Plus. It's a bit higher in some of the nutritional counts, but still tastes good. None of the three men/boys in my family can tell the difference, so that's something!
Personally, it did take me a little while to adjust to whole wheat pastas. My step-kids didn't care for it much either,so I would mix 1/2 and 1/2 when we made it and that helped a lot. Finally they adapted well to using just the WW pastas.
That is great that the pasta had 6 grams of fiber. Plus add in the sauce and broccoli & your fiber count would be up more. What a way to "Power Up" a meal with extra fiber. Great post.
Amy w/ Full Plate Diet Team
I am a diabetic and have been avoiding pasta (and most other grain based carbs) because it makes my blood sugar spike high. However, anything with a good amount of fiber helps it stay steady. With 6 grams of fiber per serving, it may be time for me to try adding pasta back into my diet. I'll have to try both the Ronzoni and Barilla pastas to see which one I think tastes best.