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NUTRITION INFORMATION
Pasta is a universally appealing food that is perfect for all ages. Few foods are as nutritionally satisfying, convenient to prepare and fun to eat!
Pasta is:
- An excellent source of Thiamin and Folic Acid
- A good source of Iron, Riboflavin and Niacin
- A Low Fat Food (it contains 3g or less of fat)
- A Sodium Free Food (contains less than 5 mg of sodium)
- A Cholesterol Free Food (contains less than 2 mg of cholesterol and 2 g or less of saturated fat)
Egg Noodles Are:
- An excellent source of Thiamin and Folic Acid
- A good source of Iron, Riboflavin and Niacin
- A Low Fat Food (it contains 3g or less of fat)
- A Very Low Sodium Food (it contains 35 mg or less of sodium)
Because pasta is a nutritious, low fat food, it fits well with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Dietary Guidelines are advice about what Americans should eat to stay healthy. The guidelines stress the need for many Americans to consume diets that are lower in fat and higher in complex carbohydrates.
Claims like "free", "low", "good source", and "excellent source" can only be made if a food meets the government's strict definitions. A claim may not be made unless it is defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Serving Sizes are based on the average amount of food that people usually eat at one time. Companies use reference amounts set by the government to determine the serving size for each product. Since similar foods have similar serving sizes, it is easier to compare their nutrient content. The standardized serving size for pasta is 2 ounces (56 grams) of uncooked pasta. The common household measure that most closely approximates 2 ounces will vary with the shape of the pasta. For example:
Pasta Cut Serving Size (Uncooked) Small Shell Macaroni about ½ cup Ziti about ¾ cup Lasagne 2 ½ pieces Spaghetti 1/8 of a 16 oz. package Noodles 1 ¼ cups
Daily Values are the label reference values for nutrients. These values are set by the government and are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. The %DV shows what portion of the Daily Value is provided by a serving of a particular food.
Under the 1994 Nutrition Label Education Act (NLEA), the following nutrients must be listed:
Calories are determined by the amount of fat, carbohydrate and protein in a food. Pasta contains approximately 210 calories/serving.
Calories from Fat and Total Fat are shown to help consumers meet the dietary recommendation of 30% or less of their total daily calories from fat. Pasta is one of the lowest-fat food choices you can make. A 2 ounce serving of enriched macaroni contains about 1 gram of fat (2% DV). A serving of egg noodles provides 2.5 grams of fat (4% DV).
Saturated Fat is part of the total fat in a food. The recommended intake of saturated fat is less than 10 percent of total daily calories. A serving of enriched macaroni contains no saturated fat. A serving of egg noodles has 1 gram of saturated fat (5% DV).
Poly- and Monounsaturated Fat. Our enriched macaroni products meet the requirements for a cholesterol-free claim and, therefore, list the amounts of poly- and monounsaturated fats. A serving of enriched macaroni has 0.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat and no monounsaturated fat.
Cholesterol is required on the label. Health experts recommend eating less than 300 milligrams each day. Enriched macaroni products do not contain any cholesterol. New World Pasta's egg noodles contain 70 milligrams of cholesterol (23% DV) in a serving.
Sodium is also listed on the label. Health professionals recommend eating less than 2,400 milligrams of sodium each day. Enriched macaroni products are naturally sodium-free. Because sodium occurs naturally in eggs, a serving of egg noodles contains 15 milligrams of sodium (1% DV).
Carbohydrates should comprise the largest portion of the diet. Nutritionists recommend that we increase our intake of carbohydrates to 60% of total calories. Eating pasta is a good way to increase carbohydrates in your diet. One serving of pasta contains 42 or more grams of carbohydrates (14% DV).
Dietary Fiber is a type of carbohydrate. It is an important part of a healthful diet because it is filling and stimulates the digestive system. A serving of pasta contains 2 grams of fiber (8% DV).
Sugars include both sugar that occurs naturally and sugar added during processing. The 2 grams of sugar in pasta is found naturally in the Semolina and Durum Flour.
Protein is vital to the growth and development of all body tissues. All proteins (e.g., protein found in meat, dairy, wheat) are made up of small units called amino acids. Pasta can be combined with dairy foods, legumes, meats, fish, and other protein sources to provide all the amino acids needed for a well-balanced diet.
Vitamins and Minerals. Information like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium and iron are required on the Nutrition Facts panel. Enriched macaroni, by law, contains added iron, as well as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin – making it a good or excellent source of these nutrients. Iron helps transport oxygen throughout the body. Thiamin, riboflavin and niacin help convert carbohydrates into energy.
Folic Acid reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects when consumed in adequate amounts by women before and during early pregnancy. One serving of pasta contains 25% of the recommended daily value.
