Barilla PLUS adds nutrients to traditional pasta

Barilla PLUS Pasta. Penne, Rotini, Elbow, Spaghetti, Thin Spaghetti and Angel Hair. $1.79 per 1-pound box.

Bonnie: Barilla PLUS continues the trend of enhanced pastas that began with Soy7, the high-soy-protein pasta introduced a couple of years ago. Barilla PLUS is a multigrain pasta made with ingredients not traditionally found in pasta, including oats, spelt, barley, legumes and flaxseeds. Those ingredients increase the protein, fiber and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in the pasta without increasing the calories.

The soy-based Soy7 has only half the fiber and none of the omega-3s of Barilla PLUS. Like Soy7 and whole-wheat pastas, Barilla PLUS takes a bit longer to cook, is chewier and costs more than traditional pastas.

As for taste, I prefer traditional flour-based fresh pasta to Barilla PLUS. People who eat a wide variety of foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and salmon or other high-omega-3 seafood don't need Barilla PLUS. Others might want to give it a try.

Carolyn: Pasta is apparently a much better palate for added healthy ingredients than, say, brownies. I've tried soy pasta, whole-wheat pasta and now this new Barilla PLUS with oats, spelt, barley, beans and flax seeds — and pretty much liked them all.

These new super pastas do have noticeably higher prices, heartier tastes and heavier textures — you have no choice but to eat Barilla PLUS al dente, for instance. But with it covered with a good-tasting spaghetti sauce, even I didn't mind. Like Flintstone vitamins, Barilla PLUS and its whole-grain pasta kin are a relatively painless way of getting more nutrition.

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Ritz Chips Barbecue. $2.99 per 9-ounce bag.

Bonnie: Nabisco is hoping you'll nibble these new BBQ-seasoned thin crisps instead of potato chips. Although Ritz Barbecue contains about the same amount of calories as regular potato chips, it has 3 to 4 grams less fat per similar-size serving. Ritz Chips are also a bit saltier. Otherwise, there's not much here except calories. Popcorn (which is a whole grain) or peanuts make a more nutritious nibble.

Carolyn: Ritz Barbecue Chips are Nabisco's latest attempt to turn Ritz Crackers into a snack chip. And who can blame Nabisco, given how few people have time to entertain or pack their own cheese and cracker on-the-go snack?

But Ritz Barbecue Chips need more barbecue coating and/or to be thinner, crisper and fattier. In other words, they're going to have to be a lot more irresistibly sinful to be sold in the company of barbecue-flavored potato chips.

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