Who says pasta is unhealthy?

Using whole grain noodles and adding veggies will make your dish more nutritious

Ask my husband what his favourite comfort food is and the answer will be quick: pasta. Who doesn’t love a steamy bowl of noodles or macaroni slathered in butter and cheese? It’s a classic, born straight out of childhood mac and cheese days, morphed into a late-night college study-session standby.

As adults, we decide to eat healthier, and it almost seems like our loyal noodle friend gets tossed aside, as if there were no way to include pasta in a healthy diet. Well, I’m here with good news: Pasta can be part of a healthy diet, and I have a few tips to help keep things both comforting and nutritious.

First: Read the labels because not all pastas are created equal. Look for whole grain pastas, which usually translate into more protein and fi- bre, which makes your meal more filling.

If you are feeling ambitious, you can even seek out some pasta versions made from beans and legumes.

Next tip: minimize fat by using starchy pasta water for saucy silkiness. Sauté up some veggies and aromatics in just a smidge of olive oil, and use the pasta water to add the saucy vibe.

Adding veggies to the pasta will bulk it up, add nutrients and make the dish prettier. My go-to is frozen spinach. You could sauté it up with the spices and olive oil. Alternatively in weeknight rush, try tossing the frozen spinach right into the boiling pasta just before draining to cook it there.

My final tip: try lemon zest instead of part or all of the parmesan cheese. The zest adds an aromatic depth that somehow makes the nutty parmesan cheese less pronounced if missing. Note that when I use my lemon zest trick, I swap out classic basil and use fresh thyme instead — it’s a marriage made in heaven.