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How to Pack the Perfect Salad In a Jar

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Healthy grab-and-go meals are an easy and healthy cost-effective alternative to eating out on your lunch break.  Eating salad for meals is one step to keep you on track to maintain your goal weight. With a large variety of ingredients and flavors to choose from, salad jars are a great way to have a meal loaded with nutritious vitamins and minerals.

As with any dish, it can be easy to add items that are higher in calories.  To keep your salads lower in calories, choose your options wisely and use a measuring cup to keep your layers light and full. The best part about making a salad in a jar is creating a tasty masterpiece with all the ingredients that you enjoy the most!

Let’s make your salad in a jar! [Read more…] about How to Pack the Perfect Salad In a Jar

All About Pasta

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Selecting the right shape of pasta in your dish has the ability to take your meal to a level beyond your imagination. The following information will help you to make the right decision in order to create a delicious meal! Choosing the right shape for your dish can be challenging but we want to make it easier for you! See the guide below:

Soups:

  • Farfalline, Pastina, Fideo, Fusilli, Tripolini, Ruote, Orzo

Salads:

  • Linguine, Fusilli, Tubini, Rotini, Ziti, Tripolini, Rocchetti, Penne, Vermicelli

Casseroles:

  • Figli, Lasagna, Orzo, Fusilli, Rocchetti, Rotini, Spaghetti, Radiatori

Stir-Fry:

  • Ziti, Linguine, Penne, Mostaccioli, Rotini, Spaghetti, Vermicelli, Tubini, Farfalline

Sauces:

  • Fettuccine, Tortellini, Linguine, Fusilli, Penne, Orzo, Gemelli, Vermicelli, Rigatoni

Baked Dishes

  • Tubini, Ziti, Farfalline, Manicotti

Stop the presses because pasta doesn’t last lifetime! Contrary to what you think, pasta does have a shelf life and it matters! The following information will definitely help you get your money’s worth.

Shelf life matters! Here are the shelf lives for dry noodles:

Egg Pasta Noodles & Vegetable:

  • 1-2 years depending on the best by date

Non-Egg:

  • 3 years depending on best by date

 

Are you making the most out of all the pasta you recently cooked? Follow these tips to ensure your food is safe to eat for you and the entire family!

Leftover Pasta 101: Keep in refrigerator for only 3 to 4 days Planning your meals will help you utilize your leftovers better. Keep food at peak quality by immediately portioning into smaller containers to avoid bacteria growth Reheat food to 165 F When in doubt, toss it out

Leftover safety 101!

  • Keep in refrigerator for only 3-4 days
  • Planning your meals will help you utilize your leftovers better.
  • Keep food as peak quality by immediately portioning into smaller containers to avoid bacteria growth.
  • Always reheat food to 165 Degrees F.
  • When in doubt, toss it out!

Which pasta should you pair which sauce?? Heres our guide from Escoffier. 

Long and round: (spaghetti, linguini, vermicelli, and angel hair)
Olive-oil-based sauces work best with these long noodles. They coat the thin surface and cling to it without having too much noodle to drown out the sauce.

Long and flat: (fettucine, tagliatelle, pappardelle, linguine)
Creamy sauces like ragu and bolognaise. They require bigger surfaces in order to stick to the noodles and not just fall to the bottom of the serving dish. Look for ones that are wide and flat, like pappardelle?, for rich, hearty sauces. Alfredo sauce is great on fettucine because it doesn’t require as much noodle to stick to. If you are working with a meaty or heavy sauce, also chose a wider, flat noodle like tagliatelle to hold up the thicker sauce.

Short pasta: (ziti, campanelle, penne, rigatoni)
Short pastas are super versatile. They have plenty of surface to hold creamy sauces but they also work well with chunky ones because meat and veggies get stuck inside them or on them. Pastas with the word “rigate” in them have ridges. This makes them excellent candidates for light sauces like pesto or creamy alfredo.

Large, wide noodles: (lasagna, manicotti, giant shells)

Lasagna noodles are perfect for baked pasta dishes. They layer well with sauce, meat and cheese and give the dish structure. Shells and manicotti can be stuffed with all your favorite ingredients and baked to perfection.

Spiral noodles: (rotini, fusilli, cavitappi)
Looking for a pasta that will hold thin sauces like alfredo but can also handle meaty, heavy varieties? Look for a spiraled noodle like rotini, cavitappi or fusilli. The texture of these types of pasta allows them to gather a lot of sauce and not let it slip off. Plus, they can be easier to eat (no slurping) and are a major favorite with kids. You can also use bigger ingredients with these noodles, like cheese chunks, chickpeas and diced tomatoes. These larger items would fall away from a spaghetti noodle but work well with shorter, more textured options.

Short shapes: (bowtie, wagon wheels, cavatelli)
Noodle shapes that are short and thick have a more dense bite. They work well in pasta salads and with larger ingredients. They have ridges, curls and ruffles that make them sturdier and work well with hearty, meaty sauces.

Here are some of our favorite pasta recipes to use all your new knowledge!

 

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No Double Dipping

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Share the dip, not the germ!  Although the temptation to dip again is normal…Don’t double dip!  Research has proven and science suggests that double dipping can be hazardous to your health.  Double dipping contaminates the dip with bacteria from your mouth and hands.  Check out these options to keep in mind when dip is the center of attention!

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High Protein Recipes

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Lean protein is an essential component of a balanced diet, providing numerous health benefits for both adults and children. Incorporating lean protein into daily meals can support overall health, growth, and development.

What Is Lean Protein?

Lean protein refers to protein sources that are lower in fat and calories but rich in essential nutrients. Examples include:

  • Beef and pork trimmed of extra fat
  • Ground beef and pork that is 93% lean or more
  • Skinless poultry
  • Fish and seafood
  • Legumes (beans, lentils, peas)
  • Low-fat dairy products (e.g., yogurt, milk, and cheese)
  • Eggs
  • Plant-based alternatives

Benefits of Lean Protein

Supports Growth and Development
Protein is vital for building and repairing tissues, making it particularly important for children during growth spurts. It also supports the development of muscles, bones, and organs.

Maintains Muscle Mass
For adults, lean protein helps maintain muscle mass, especially as they age. Preserving muscle is key to maintaining strength and metabolism.

Promotes Healthy Weight Management
Protein is highly satiating, meaning it keeps you feeling full longer. Including lean protein in meals can reduce overeating and support healthy weight management for all age groups.

Provides Essential Nutrients
Lean protein sources often come packed with additional nutrients such as iron, zinc, and B vitamins, which are critical for energy production, immune function, and brain development.

Heart Health
Substituting lean protein for high-fat meats can lower saturated fat intake, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Daily Protein Recommendations

The amount of protein needed varies based on age, sex, and activity level. The 2020-2025 and 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend:

  • Children aged 1-3 years: 13 grams per day
  • Children aged 4-8 years: 19 grams per day
  • Adolescents aged 9-13 years: 34 grams per day
  • Adults: 1.2-1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, adjusting as needed based on your individual caloric requirements.

Including lean protein in a healthy diet benefits adults and children by supporting growth, muscle maintenance, and overall health. A focus on lean options also helps manage calorie and fat intake while providing essential nutrients.

Here is a list of over 130 recipes that are high in protein, 20 grams or more, per serving. We hope you enjoy these recipes!

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