Pasta doesn't make you fat.

Researchers say that pasta by itself will not make you gain weight. It’s important to check the sauces and the portion size.

THE PASTA DIVIDE

If you are reading this article, it’s probably because you love Italian food and culture. Our culinary tradition is well known around the world. You can find many Italian restaurants everywhere and so many more books about Italian “secrets” and recipes. But does pasta make you gain weight?  There are very strong and differing opinions when it comes to this question.  When someone wants to lose weight, especially in a small amount of time, low carb diet certainly helps. We are not doctors and of course we will never give you medical advice!

LOOK AT THE SAUCES AND QUANTITY

Today we want just to talk about “pasta”. Many people think that to lose weight, you should avoid eating pasta.  There are studies which don’t agree with that. First of all, not all pasta is created equally! For example, usually it is made with refined grains, but you can opt also for whole grain pasta instead. It tastes good, it just takes a bit longer to cook. Another thing to consider when you want to lose weight is the type of sauce the pasta is prepared with.  Let’s see: a carbonara dish (made with egg, bacon, and parmesan cheese) will of course be heavier than spaghetti with tomato sauce. Lasagna has more calories than penne with zucchini. The same goes for risotto. It’s always good to choose a vegetable based sauce made with few natural ingredients. If the extra virgin olive oil is high quality, you can season your pasta with Evoo and Parmigiano cheese (hint: for an authentic Italian flavor, look for the Magnifico selection, and opt for either Redoro or Agricola Piano)

PASTA IS NOT FATTENING BY ITSELF

Again, the key here is the quality of the pasta and the sauce that determines its overall health value. And, as with everything in life, moderation here is the key.  While we're not recommending a specific portion size (as it tends to vary from person to person), overeating is generally never good for out waist sizes! 

PASTA FOR DINNER? WHY NOT?

Italians, by tradition, eat pasta mostly at lunch time, leaving the protein for dinner. But there is nothing wrong if you want to have some in the evening - just be mindful of what you've eaten over the course of the day.