Pasta Gets Smarter - and Healthier

04/10/07 Parents of picky eaters everywhere will rejoice this fall over the introduction of new Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta. With three times the fiber of regular white pasta and the same amount of calcium as an eight-ounce glass of milk, Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta looks and tastes like traditional white pasta that the whole family can enjoy -- and kids will never know the difference!

"Getting kids to eat healthy foods can be one of the most challenging tasks parents face each day, but there are dozens of simple ways to accomplish this," says Missy Chase Lapine, The Sneaky Chef and author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals. "Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta is the ideal Sneaky Chef food, because it adds calcium and fiber to kids' meals without them even realizing it!"

Calcium and fiber are two key nutrients that can be lacking in children's diets. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, only about 30 percent of boys and 10 percent of girls between the ages of 12 and 19 meet their daily calcium requirements. Among children age three to five, less than 60 percent get enough calcium, and among children age six to 11, less than 40 percent of boys and 30 percent of girls get enough calcium.

When it comes to fiber, most Americans consume only about half the recommended amount each day. According to one study, three out of four pre-school age children are not getting enough fiber. Among its many benefits, research shows that fiber not only promotes proper digestion but contributes to fullness, helping to prevent overeating.

"We're proud to offer Ronzoni Smart Taste as an innovative new line of pasta that combines great taste with nutritional benefits," says Dave Heimbecker, Director of Marketing, New World Pasta. "Ronzoni Smart Taste complements our Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend pastas, by providing a wide variety of great tasting and healthy pastas for the whole family."

Ronzoni Smart Taste is not only an excellent source of fiber and calcium, but it is also lower in calories and fat than traditional white pasta and contains no sodium, preservatives or cholesterol. Ronzoni Smart Taste is available in Spaghetti, Thin Spaghetti, Penne Rigate, Rotini and Elbows. Ronzoni Smart Taste is available at retailers nationwide. Each 14.5-ounce variety is $1.69.