Whats the difference between dried pasta and fresh pasta?
Fresh pasta contains eggs and additional water so it takes less time to cook than dried pasta. But fresh pasta can add more cholesterol-raising saturated fat and sodium to your meal if it’s stuffed with cheese and meat. For instance, one-cup serving of President’s Choice Lombardia Gorgonzola and Walnut ravioli delivers 6 grams of saturated fat – nearly one-third of a day’s worth – and 510 milligrams of sodium. Read labels to compare brands. If you don’t have time to make pasta sauce, what should you look for on labels? Ideally, choose a tomato sauce for a good source of vitamins A and C. Low in fat and calories, tomato sauce is also an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant linked with protection from prostate cancer. But keep in mind that add-ins like cheese, beef and cream add calories and saturated fat. Look for a product with no more than 65 calories, 1 gram saturated fat, and 400 milligrams of sodium per one-half cup (125 ml) serving.
