There is a tradition of buying the kind of foods you would eat if you weren't feeling well, food that would taste good in that scenario and would be easy to prepare — especially when standing up isn't much fun.
Canned chicken noodle soup falls into that category, as does spaghetti rings (yes, we're avoiding the name more commonly associated with that pasta).
When I saw a whole wheat version of spaghetti rings, I had to buy a can to try it out. And while I wasn't that under the weather when I tried it, I was looking forward to seeing what the effects of whole wheat pasta would be on a time-honored treat.
The whole-wheat version had cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup.
We see a lot of marketing about whole grain and whole wheat being better for you, and they are. But companies are sly about promoting them, even if it's a mixture that includes enriched macaroni.
The ingredients (in order of prominence) that fall above the 2% mark are: water, tomato paste, whole wheat pasta, enriched macaroni, and cane sugar.
You see "whole wheat pasta" on the front of the label, and it does contain whole wheat pasta. But adding "enriched macaroni" diminishes the "whole" part of the equation.
If you eat the whole 14.75 oz. can, you get 240 calories and 52g of carbohydrates. You also get 6g of fiber and 8g of protein, though with 760mg of sodium.
This is healthier than the regular pasta rings, but cooking up some whole grain (not just whole wheat) pasta that is 100% whole grain with a nice sauce (not too much sugar or salt) — that would be much healthier and taste better, too, though not as convenient.
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