| 1. Availability & Storage | | | | 4. Budget-Friendly |
| Evey supermarket store will carry pasta, even if it is in | | | | This is perhaps the most important reason to choose |
| the most simplest Spaghetti form. In fact, even the | | | | Pasta for dinner. a 2 lb package of noodles can easily |
| mom-and-pop stores across the streets carry them at | | | | feed a family of 4 or 5. Add the cost of some sauce |
| time. no matter where you live, and no matter what | | | | and cheese, and you'll still be looking at a family dinner |
| weather it is, you can always rely on a package of | | | | under $10 - and that includes Garlic Toast too! That's |
| pasta to | | | | even less than the cost of one person's meal if you go |
| 2. Healthy & Kid-Friendly Too! | | | | to a non-chain restaurant and order a single item from |
| Homemade pasta can be quite healthy, contrary to | | | | their menu! And homemade sauces are even cheaper, |
| what one might think, if you stick to a healthy Pasta | | | | as you can make in bulk and store and keep for use |
| Sauce recipe; using whole wheat pasta and adding | | | | later on in the month. Try making different kinds of |
| nutritious ingredients like spinach, garlic and herbs that | | | | Pesto Sauces, like this Cilantro Pesto, or the Walnut |
| add to the vitamin, mineral and fiber content of the | | | | Arugula Pesto for affordable yet tasty variations. |
| pasta, some cheese for protein, tomatoes for | | | | 5. Delicious to Eat |
| lycopene & nuts for omega-3 oils will actually give you | | | | Pasta comes in so many shapes and sizes, that its |
| a filling meal fit for your kids and your entire family. Plus, | | | | easy to mix and match and create a meal that is |
| pasta comes in so many interesting shapes, tubes, | | | | delicious, yet different from last time. What I do is keep |
| tunnels, macaroni and more, that kids find it fun to | | | | 5 basic sauce recipes on hand, and 5 different types |
| indulge in the colorful meal laid out in front of them. | | | | of pasta packages at home. Then I keep alternating |
| 3. Ease of Preparation | | | | between the pairings. So one time its Ravioli with |
| It is so simple, even a kid could do it (well, almost, if the | | | | Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce, other time it is Fettuccine in |
| kid is at least 8 years old!) Just boil a pot of water, add | | | | Wine Sauce, and yet another time it is the Vegetarian |
| a teaspoon of salt and empty the pasta noodles into | | | | Spinach Lasagna! |
| the crock pot. Cook for 10 minutes and you are done. | | | | So, if you are wondering what to cook tonight, it might |
| When you are short on time, just add some | | | | be a good idea to dish out some Noodles and look at |
| ready-made Pasta sauce on the top, some Parmesan | | | | one of the Pasta recipes above, then make your |
| cheese, some fresh pepper, and you are good to go. | | | | family a hit & healthy restaurant-style meal which will |
| Simple enough, right? it doesn't take rocket science to | | | | not cash out your pockets, and yet make for a tasty |
| make some Baked Macaroni & Cheese! | | | | eating event. |