Finding Organic, Whole Wheat Pastas

The other day I noticed my daughter acting whiny after a big breakfast of apple, egg and banana. I knew she was full enough and rested enough, so the hanging off me and throwing herself on the ground (she’s 16 months) and hysterical crying seemed odd. I figured it would pass, but she wouldn’t cheer up. I took her temperature and checked if she was teething, but she continued to cry. I thanked whomever you’re supposed to thank that she’s usually so easy, and wondered how bad a mother I’d be if I had to face this every day.

And then I called my husband and told him I was thinking about taking her to the doctor, maybe she had an earache or an invisible illness. He agreed but said before you go, make her a big bowl of pasta. I put on the water and wrangled her into her high chair. She dropped her head in her hands and cried. I ran cold water over the cooked pasta so I could get it into her as fast as possible, and dropped a few pieces on her tray. She started eating and looked up and laughed. She continued forking it into her mouth with both hands. About five minutes later she was her happy self again.

I think bad habits often begin as a way to avoid misery, so as relieved as I was to see her brighten up, I sensed a looming battle with pasta. There’s nothing wrong with pasta, but it’s refined and processed and not packed with nutrition. I investigated what’s out there in organic and whole wheat, and found there a number of alternatives that stick to her gut the way she clearly craves.

They include:

• Bionaturae: She loved their organic gluten free fusilli made from rice potato and soy, and their organic durum semolina pappardelle.
• Eden Organics: She liked the rye spirals and spelt ribbons.
• Ronzoni: Their seven-grain blend pasta was a big hit.
• Barilla: She loved their whole grain penne made with 51% whole wheat.
• Annie’s: She loved everything they make, but particularly their organic shells and white cheddar.
• Mueller’s: Big fan of the whole grain penne.
• Diamond Organics: Overnight delivery to anywhere in the country, she couldn’t get enough of their fresh organic squash and cheese ravioli.