Pasta is Tasty & Brings People Together   
    
Welcome to the new issue of The Truth About Pasta, the monthly newsletter from the International Pasta Organization. Each month's newsletter features a new and different topic -- all pointing to The Truth About Pasta. The truth is...pasta is healthy, sustainable, convenient, delicious, affordable, doesn't make you fat, and much, much more. Be sure to look for each new issue, with more topics and information.
  
Introduction

In times of economic uncertainty and rising global tensions, people are creating an environment of love and inclusivity by sharing meals together with friends and family. Pasta is a popular pick for community potlucks, family gatherings, and neighborhood dinner parties because pasta is tasty and it brings people together.
 
Few foods bring a smile to people's faces like a delicious bowl of pasta. This delicious pantry staple crosses culture, age and dietary boundaries like almost no other single food. Whether you favor the spicy cuisine of Mexico and Brazil, the freshness of Mediterranean herbs and fish, or the heartiness of a warm comfort food on a cold day, pasta is a canvas for every culture and cuisine.
 
While pasta meals have been around for centuries, pasta's popularity is only growing stronger. According to the Food Trends 2016 report from Google, "The Pasta Comeback" was highlighted as one of the top five food trends of 2016. In fact, Google reports that search interest in pasta grew 26% from January 2015 to January 2016, and is especially strong on the weekends. Rigatoni was the most popular shape that people searched online for, but there was also strong interest in tortellini, linguine, penne, and fusilli, among others.
 
Pasta has a long history, but this iconic dish is also bringing a new generation together. In a study of Italian millenials (the generation of adults under age 35), pasta ranked first among essential foods. This group of young adults, "generation Masterchef," especially prizes pasta's tradition, improvisation, simplicity, and affordability. In fact, eight out of ten report eating pasta meals almost every day. And when asked, 42% of the millennials answered that the pasta dish of the future is Spaghetti, Tomatoes and Basil. You will find the recipe of this transgenerational evergreen pasta dish below.
 

Experts Say...

Food and nutrition experts from all across the globe take pride in their countries delicious and nutritious pasta meals. According to the scientific experts who gathered at the 5th World Pasta Congress to write a Scientific Consensus Statement on the Healthy Pasta Meal, "Pasta meals are enjoyed in cultural traditions worldwide.
 
While pasta is best known for its delicious taste, nutrition experts have uncovered even more reasons to love pasta. In a July 2016 study in Nutrition & Diabetes, researchers analyzed the eating habits, BMI, and abdominal obesity of more than 23,000 adults across Italy to see how pasta intake relates to body weight. The researchers found that pasta intake was linked with significantly lower BMIs and central obesity, even after adjusting for total calories and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Pasta intake was also correlated with the intake of other healthy foods, such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, seasoned cheese, and rice. 

 
Did You Know...

During the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janiero, chefs are serving an estimated 2,700 kilograms (5,952 pounds) of pasta to athletes from all across the globe. That's
enough to prepare 1,000 plates of spaghetti and fusilli per day for the three weeks of competition! 

The athlete dining room at the summer games is two football fields long and highlights pasta in one of its five international buffet offerings.

Athletes Around the World Are Pasta Fans:
  • U.S. Olympic Medalist Michael Phelps said he used to eat 1 kg of pasta per day when in training.
  • When training, a light lunch for Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter, includes pasta.
  • But perhaps the most unexpected pro pasta and carbohydrates testimonial comes from an athlete of the past: Before races, Jesse Owens, the hero of Berlin '36, ate only pasta, provided by a friend from Little Italy.



Recipe of the Month



Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Basil
 
Ingredients:
650 grams (1 1/2 pounds) spaghetti
450 grams (1 pound) tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced white onion,
10 basil leaves
4 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: 
  1. Dip the tomatoes into boiling water for about ten seconds and place in a bowl of ice water for 1 minute. Remove from the ice water, and dry. Peel them, remove the seeds and cut them in slices. 
  2. In a saucepan, brown the minced onion in the olive oil, then add the tomatoes.
    Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about ten minutes. 
  3. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions in plenty of salted water, drain and add it to the sauce. 
  4. Garnish with basil leaves and sprinkle with the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese before serving. 
Nutritional Analysis: 
Per Serving: Calories: 490, Total Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 70mg, Carbohydrate: 89g, Fiber: 5g, Protein: 17g 

Yield: 6 servings



World Pasta Day 2016 Moscow

We are pleased to announce the next World Pasta Day will be
celebrated in Moscow, on October 25th, 2016, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.





View this video from last year's event, to see how pasta brings people together.  


World Pasta Day and Congress 2015- Follow Up


Click here for more info about World Pasta Day 2016
or contact f.ronca@internationalpasta.org.
 








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