When I was a child, my number-one requested dinner was shells and cheese. I loved the day-glo yellow cheeselike product that smothered the tuna and peas my mother mixed in, her attempt to add some nutritional value. I found the little shell pasta perfectly shaped to hold pools of sauce, and could eat three servings in one sitting. Unfortunately, as an adult, no matter how fondly I remember this popular kids’ meal, the reality just doesn’t measure up. I don’t know if the formula has changed or if my tastes have grown more sophisticated, but the same processed meal no longer satisfies and actually makes me feel a little sick. So of course I’ve been on a quest to create a healthy homemade version of this childhood favorite. I’ve learned that a simple butter roux makes a great base for a homemade cheese sauce. But I’ve spent quite some time searching for the perfect whole grain pasta shells. Imagine my excitement when I was offered an opportunity to review Barilla® Whole Grain pasta and opened my package to find a box of whole grain shells shining out at me like a beacon from the depths of packing paper and cardboard.
I was a little nervous that this pasta would disappoint like so many others we’ve tried in the past. Several years ago, my mom bought several brands of whole grain or whole wheat pasta and gave them to me because my father and brother wouldn’t eat them. I tried each one once and experienced a variety of disappointments from slimy to gummy to just plain unpleasant. But Barilla has a taste guarantee for their whole grain pasta. If you don’t love it, they’ll give you a free box of your favorite Barilla pasta. I decided that if they were that confident in their product, I was willing to give it a try. I dished up the pasta and sat down at the table with nervous anticipation, wondering whether I’d finally found a healthier pasta that actually tastes good.
Everyone dug into their bowls and made muffled sounds of satisfaction through mouthfuls of cheesy pasta. I explained to our exchange students that macaroni and cheese was a very popular children’s meal in America and that shells and cheese was always my favorite version. One student dropped his fork into his empty bowl and announced “I think it is very delicious!” Once everyone was done, I turned to my husband and asked, “Honey, what did you think of the pasta?” Surprised, he answered “It was good of course! What’s not to like about macaroni and cheese?” “No I mean the actual pasta itself, the shells.” “They were great. Why?” I smiled and pulled out the box to show him.
Barilla Whole Grain is 51% whole wheat, and all natural. While I still hope to one day switch to entirely whole wheat for everything we eat, we’re just not there yet. But Barilla Whole Grain is a huge step in the right direction. It has three times the fiber of regular pasta — and if you’re like me and trying to figure out a way to start incorporating whole grains into your family’s diet, there’s no easier way. I think we all look for ways to feed healthier foods to our families, and if you’d like to try moving toward whole grains, check out the various whole grain pasta types Barilla has to offer. You can also visit TryBarillaWholeGrain.com to get more recipe ideas using their whole grain pastas.
A couple quick notes on the recipe. It made ten servings for us but we also tend to have smaller portion sizes than the average American. I did all the nutrition calculation based on seven servings. It can all be lower if you make it ten servings like we do. If 1/10th of the recipe isn’t enough for you, add a simple green salad. You can also lower the fat content by using low-fat cheeses. We LOVE cheese and cut out fat in other areas so we can indulge in the good stuff.
Whole Grain Shells and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz medium whole wheat pasta shells
- 3 TBS salted butter
- 3 TBS flour (any kind)
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 2 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I like sharp cheddar and gruyere)
- 1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper
- 1 (5 oz) can tuna, drained
- 2/3 cup frozen peas, cooked
- to taste salt (I use about 1/2 tsp kosher salt)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Melt butter in a pot on medium high. Stir flour into the butter until it makes a kind of paste (this is called roux), then stir in milk.
- Add cheese to the milk and stir until melted. The sauce should be thickening by now so add the pepper.
- Drain your pasta and stir it into the sauce along with the tuna and cooked peas. Serve sprinkled with additional sauce to taste.
Notes
Approximate cost/serving: This cost us about $4 to make. We stretched it to 10 servings but I’ll stick with the seven servings I used to calculate the nutritional information. It’s still just 57 cents a serving. CHEAP!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
7Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 354Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 438mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 19g
Nutrition information is an estimate only.
I haven’t tried Barilla whole grain but it’s definitely now on my list to check out at the store! Love that it has 3x the amount of fiber – that’s great!
I love the great taste of Barilla Whole Grain, plus the fact that my kids like it!
tweet–https://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/174199926954262530
i love that it’s tasty and healthy
https://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/174205201866170369
I have always loved Mac & cheese. We’ve been making it with regular macaroni noodles & 2%-milk Velveeta. Shells and cheese are even better, since the shells hold more sauce! My kids love it mixed with tuna too, although for the 5 of us it takes 2 cans of tuna these days. Would love to try some of the Barilla shells – I’m always looking for healthier ways to make favorite foods.
Yum, a healthy “mac ‘n cheese”! This looks so great, Diana. This so reminds me of my childhood!
I love that it is so much simpler then making my own whole grain pasta…there are some nights where we just don’t have time and I love having a healthy alternative to homemade 🙂
i love that it tastes great but its good for you
https://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/174219087189250048
I love that the pasta is healthy and actually taste good, unlike other whole grain pastas that taste like grains of sand are mixed in with the flour.
I actually cooked with Barilla Whole Grain last night as an experiment! My kids (OK, husband too) are very picky and and I was wondering if they would notice a difference in the taste. I am so happy to report that nobody noticed the difference in taste, and my family devoured it! Not only that, but I was full all evening, and it curbed my desire to snack after dinner. I will definitely be buying this product again!
I’m looking forward to trying the Barilla whole grain pasta. I like the slightly nutty flavor of whole wheat pasta. Looking forward to also trying your recipe out.
i like all the different dishes you can make with the pasta
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/MeandBells/status/174277969332809728
I lopve that its all natural and a great source of fiber
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/1amypugmire/status/174280234202431488
I like it’s whole grain and also taste great. Kids love it as well.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/174282023953895425
I never knew that Barilla had whole grain! Barilla is my favorite brand of pasta. I’m so excited that they have a pasta now that is whole grain but still tastes good. I’m adding Barilla whole grain to my weekly dinners!
i love the taste and it makes a healthy meal for my family 🙂
What I love is Barilla Whole Grain is made with 51% whole wheat, which is excellent source of fiber.
Tweet about this promotion:
https://twitter.com/#!/tiankinasih/status/174330185297039360
I love that it tasted good and is good for you!
Thanks Diana for the review on this pasta! Good to know that your hubby and boys liked it as my family has a harder time when I throw in whole grains.
I like it because Barilla whole grain pasta is satisfying so you eat less food!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
This giveaway is posted on my blog
http://mscarolsue.blogspot.com/p/barilla-pasta.html
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Taste good and very versatile in pasta dishes and healthier.
My kids love the Barilla whole-grain rotini (they call it “twirly-whirly pasta”) and I serve it with a vegan “cheese” sauce made out of potatoes, red pepper, carrots, onions, cashews, and yummy spices (I got it from a vegan website). We’re not vegan just trying to cut out dairy to cut back on congestion and it really helps. I also throw in some small-diced ham.
I love all the awesome fiber!
It is not only healthy, but my family loves the flavor and texture!
I like that it is a healthy alternative to pasta
I really like the taste. I was surprised the first time I tried it and never expected to like it so much. Even my family enjoys it.
Thanks so much.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/peg42/status/174928829196939264
Thanks again
It is healthy and easy to fix~
https://twitter.com/#!/mkjmc/status/174955805836197888
I like the taste and that its healthy.
Its a good idea for kids.
I love the taste of Barilla whole grain pasta! And that fact that it works well in any pasta recipe!
Thanks for the giveaway!
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/js22222222/status/175016251809206273
Like the way it taste and know it is healthy
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Barilla whole grain tastes great!
I have been thinking about trying whole grain pasta. After reading this post, I think I’ll try it out on my family.
I love that Barilla Whole Grain pasta tastes great and is better for you nutritionally.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/clc408/status/175251110905389056
tastes good and easy to make
I love that it’s better for my blood sugar.
I like the whole grain because it is a healthier way to eat pasta.
I love that it is a whole grain pasta my family will actually eat.
I like that it tastes good, and is healthier for me. I eat a lot of pasta, and I’m glad that there is a good alternative to regular pasta.
I love Barilla pasta. I like my pasta firm, not mushy, and barilla fills the bill.
I have made tuna mac for years, and tried many variations. the cheese sauce sounds like a great addition.
http://twitter.com/#!/miljo1249/status/175417854848544768
51% whole wheat. 3x the fiber of regular pasta. Find out why Barilla Whole Grain is a delicious smart food choice and the kids will eat it!
The best thing I love about Barilla is the taste and quantity you get 😀
I just tweeted this giveaway here 😀
https://twitter.com/#!/TimboSquad/status/175514074686304257
i love that it is more nutritious than plain white pasta
https://twitter.com/#!/raggammuffin/status/175602995193589761
I love the flavor, and knowing I’m serving my family good healthy pasts
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/cdziuba/status/175615570161582080
Barilla whole grain is healthy and the healthier the better
I like that it’s healthy and tastes great.
I love the taste and texture.
I like that the whole grain is healthy for the family.
I love that its healthy, tastes good and my daughter will eat it
kport207 at gmail dot com
I love that it has more fiber and that you can’t taste the difference
I love that we can have the pasta we love and still eat healthier
I love the taste- really doesn’t taste much different from regular pasta but the extra fiber is beneficial in your diet.
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/ohstac/status/176017620632485888
We all love barilla pasta even the kids.
High fiber is my way of life! This is all absolutely delicious.
I like that it tastes great and is better for you because of the whole grain
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/buzz8/status/176698868199727104
i love that its healthier
thepryfamily@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily/status/176789069345460224
thepryfamily@gmail.com
the taste
I love the fact that it is whole grain…though my husband doesn’t like whole grain pasta, so I usually use it for lunches I make just for me.
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
I love the flavor – it is subtle but strong enough that you can eat it with very little sauce. It is so much more healthy for my family – the kids love it
I love that it is healthier and less carbs
Fab giveaway! thanks again! Janna Johnson
jannajanna@hotmail.com
janna @ feedyourpig on gfc
I like that they are small in size (great for kids and reluctant guys) and full of fiber.
https://twitter.com/#!/HMB99/status/177413464724213760
Great review on the product! I love Barilla Whole Grain pasta for their extra nutty flavor and nutrition compared to regular pasta.
I love that it’s high in fiber and healthier for me.
https://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/177574271747489793
i like that it still tastes good
I love that Barilla® Whole Grain pasta is available at the stores I shop at and is reasonably priced.
Thank you.
won2xx at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/177884717507547139
I love the extra fiber
I love that its healthy. The texture being the same as regular pasta and good taste mean we should be able to replace our more processed pasta with it.
I tweeted about this
https://twitter.com/#!/The_Sunshyn/status/177918648776802304
I love how versatile it is and healthy
thank you
tatertot3741@gmail.com
Love all the fiber and also love that it can be used to make such economical dishes!
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
I love the fact that it delivers three times the fiber of regular pasta and still tastes delicious!
Tweet:
https://twitter.com/#!/didyouyarnthat/status/178078972813381632
I love that I can eat my precious carbs and still get some whole grain nutrition too!
https://twitter.com/prismperfect/status/178196921050075137
This looks so yummy! love that barlla has lots of fiber! Good carbs!!
https://twitter.com/#!/praisetruth/status/178239940910514176
I love how healthy it is. It’s a great way to add whole grains to our diet. I love your recipe also.
I have to admit that I prefer white pasta, but we’ve made the switch and I love that Barilla is a really great source of fiber for our family’s diet….especially for my sons who eat a lot of the wrong foods when left to their own devices.
It’s healthier….and tastes better than the other whole wheat pasta
brands that I’ve tried
angel320@gmail.com
I tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/angel320/status/178626551137579009
I love that it’s so much healthier than the white stuff!
whole grain pasta is something my kids eat without battling.
The best things about it is the reasonable price for a really good source of quality dietary fiber.
I love that it is easy find in most stores and it is tasty.
i love the health benefits of the whole grains- and it tastes good too!
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/mermont84/status/179377948795736064
I love the taste
https://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/179577342132355073
I love that it has 3x the fiber of regular pasta and comes in shells, rotini, and penne…my favorite shapes. Thanks!
It’s an easy way to slip in whole grains into my family’s diet.
I love the taste and that it is so much better for you.
I am a diabetic, and the whole grains are much healthier for me.
I love that I can healthy pasta into my kids without them knowing.
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/frugalohio44/status/180373890718121986
i love that it’s healthy!
I love that Barilla is OU certified.
tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/mkvegas/status/180734655857831937
What I like about Barilla Whole Grain pasta is that you become full for less, which is a good way to decrease your cravings.
https://twitter.com/#!/ja2dalee/status/180743301807341570
I like Barilla whole grain because it’s better for you.
I like it’s whole grain and also taste great plus is all natural
purple_lover_04 at msn dot com
https://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/180898190751567873
I love Barilla’s Whole Grain Pasta because it provides more fiber, it is nutritious and delicious. I have been buying the Barilla’s regular pasta for many years and switched to this whole grain once I tried and love it’s texture.
ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
I tweeted about this giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/ctong2/status/180944346688929792
ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
I like that its healthy for my and my kids can’t tell the difference! thanks
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/181072150319468544
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
i like the great taste
Pasta that is good for you AND tastes good! Ya can’t go wrong!
I love its taste and texture!
I tweeted – https://twitter.com/#!/Lyndadawinda/status/181758808887009282
It tastes great and I make homemade Mac N Cheese with it.
I love that Barilla Whole Grain has way more fiber than regular pasta!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/181959957598568448
i love thats its a delicious way to sneak healthy food into our diets
I think I’ll try this, but instead of tune (yuck) I’ll use bacon.
chestnutyouth(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love the flavor and the healthy aspect without feeling like I’m sacrificing enjoying my food.
https://twitter.com/#!/ky2here1/status/183009345863286785
I love the variety and fast cook time. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
songyueyu at gmail
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/syytta/status/183129734018899968
songyueyu at gmail
Whole wheat – what’s not to love. Very healthy.
With being a pasta lover, we love the fact it is healthier for us. sweepmorey at gmail dot com
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/mommysdizzy/status/183626290790801408
I love that it is a healthier option than regular pasta.
smchester at gmail dot com
I love that you can make your regular dishes healthier without changing anything but the pasta!
I love that it’s healthy and still tastes great!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/183735406305615873
Barilla Whole Grain is better than any other pasta Ive tasted.
I love that Barilla Whole Grain is all natural and is a great source of fiber. Thanks for the chance to win!
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
tweet-https://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/183968269852614657
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
I love that they offer whole wheat pasta since I’m slowly eliminating (or trying) white flour from my diet.
We already use this pasta-love the flavor thanks
I love the taste.
I love that its a very well known name brand offering whole grains to the masses. I am a huge proponent of eating whole foods, especially whole grains and have noticed that lots of people have a negative opinion of “health foods.” With the Barilla name comes a guarantee that its going to taste great and hopefully that will get more people to try it and see that eating healthy tastes great!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/#!/MsTofuFairy/status/184650449058664448
I love that it’s an easy way to get whole grain into my diet.
we love making tuna casserole with barilla whole grain noodles!
have not tried it yet will soon
I love that it helped me keep my sugars down when I was preggo with gestational diabetes!
It’s great that it’s both healthy and tasty.
I like the fact it’s one healthy alternative of regular pasta that my kids will actually eat.
Thanks for the giveaway!
eswright18 at gmail dot com
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/eswright18/status/185151867628695552
eswright18 at gmail dot com
I have 2 boxes of this in my cupboard! I haven’t tried them yet, but I will tell you what I love so far about Barilla Whole Grain Pasta is the Barilla name! I can always trust Barilla to be great pasta.
I love the taste and all the fiber in this pasta!
https://twitter.com/#!/cmouse01/status/185188749330743296
I love the taste of the whole grain in Barilla’s Whole Grain pastas. I also like the added health benefits.
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
@chrisdeglen Tweeted –
twitter.com/#!/chrisdeglen/status/185212603860135936
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
I always buy whole grain pasta because I think it tastes better than regular
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/c5519/status/185227245508505600
that it’s better for me and it tastes good
It is healthy, tasty, filling,versatile and inexpensive-what’s not to like!
I love that it is healthy and it tastes good!
itsjustme62613 at gmail.com
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/MistySunrise/status/185381942907240448
itsjustme62613 at gmail.com
I have never tried it. I like Barilla pasta so I am going to give Barilla whole grain pasta a try next time I make mac and cheese.
I love that I don’t have to feel guilty about eating Barilla whole grain pasta because it’s the healthy pasta choice!
I tweeted the giveaway https://twitter.com/#!/vonmell/status/185470328271679488
I love that it is healthier than other pastas, but no one notices the difference.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/kc98765/status/185474769230106624
I use Barilla but haven’t tried the whole grain yet. Guess it’s time to get on that train.
I love Barilla whole grain, because I like knowing I’m eating in a healthy way.
tweeted
Whole Grain Shells and Cheese Recipe | Eating richly even when you’re broke https://eatingrichly.com/whole-wheat-shells-and-cheese/ #BarillaWG @BarillaUS
I LOVE THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF BARILLA WHOLE GRAIN VERSES REGULAR PASTA. IT HAS SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER!
2ND ENTRY TWEET https://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/185505060380352512
I like it’s healthier but still tasty!
It’s great they have a taste guarantee
I can eat my pasta, but still feel that I am eating very healthily.
Thanks for the giveaway…Barilla Whole Grain Shells are easy to prepare, and a good source of dietary fiber.
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
TWEET: https://twitter.com/#!/brianpiero/status/185708223205093376
I like that you can feel good about feeding it to your family. No guilt while they are eating it. thank you!
I haven’t tried it yet but the taste guarantee makes sure I’ll be buying Barilla the next time I go shopping.
I love the taste and it’s good for me too
I love that it’s a healthier, but still tasty, option.
https://twitter.com/#!/dddiva/status/185790813467459585
More taste
fiber
and nutrition!
https://twitter.com/#!/dresdenrain/status/185793549198036992
I love that it tastes great and is healthier for my family compared to traditional pasta noodles.
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/lisalmg/status/185810800538157056
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I like that it tastes good.
Thanks for the contest.
Blogged:
http://slehan.blogspot.com/2012/03/win-100-amazon-gc-from-barilla-blogher.html
I like that it contains three times more fiber than regular pasta.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
https://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/185848970550063105
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
I haven’t tried the Barilla whole grain pasta, but I think it’s better for you, so I will try it soon. Thanks for the contest!
I love finding whole grain pastas. I love pasta and the healthier it comes is better for all of us. I have not tried Barilla whole grain but, I will be.
I love that Barilla pasta is good, and good for you too! No more cardboard tasting whole grain noodles! Taste buds rejoice!
I love that Barilla® Whole Grain is healthy and filling.
I love Barilla pasta have to try this one big pasta eater!
tishajean@ charter.net
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/185930573783633921
tishajean@ charter.net
I love that Barilla Whole Grain pasta is just as tasty and filling as regular pasta but so much better for you!
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/guettel78/status/185934131316797440
I love Barilla Whole Grain Pasta because it tastes great and is better for me.
longbarb1@aol.com