Build Your Own Pasta Dish

Hi, Im Annie, a dietetics student at Virginia
Tech. Have you ever gotten home from work, looked
in the fridge, and not known what to make for dinner? On those busy days, pasta dishes are a great
way to make quick and easy meals out of the ingredients you already have on hand. You and your family can have fun choosing
from a variety of pasta shapes, proteins, vegetables, and sauces that everyone enjoys. We are going to make a hot pasta dish out
of whole wheat rotini, red and green peppers, onions, spinach, chicken, and marinara sauce.

Any of these ingredients can be substituted
for what your family has in your kitchen. For example, frozen mixed vegetables are a
quick and easy option, and canned beans or tofu could be used for a vegetarian meal. Keeping canned and frozen versions of your
favorite vegetables is a great way to build a #BetterPantry. To make our pasta, we will saute all the vegetables,
add in cooked chicken, and then simmer everything in marinara sauce.

When cooking the noodles for tonights dinner,
you can make extra that can be kept in the fridge for tomorrow. This will give you a headstart to make a yummy
pasta salad. The pasta salad can use leftover ingredients
from other recipes. We chose to use bell peppers, onions, and
cherry tomatoes for our vegetables and beans for our protein.

Finally you can add lots of flavor with salad
dressing, such as fat free italian. In just a short amount of time, we put together
delicious dishes that do not require a lot of money or a complicated recipe. There are many ways to build your own pasta
dish. Create a new family favorite and share your
ideas today..