A Wholesome, Protein Packed Meal for My Little Athletes! (AD) #BarillaPlus #BarillaGlutenFree

I’ve got three little athletes living at home.  They work hard and play hard.  All three of them play sports year round including baseball/softball, basketball, football and soccer.  They need lots of energy to fuel their bodies but they tend to be picky eaters.  I try to focus on protein and look for unique ways to get it in their diet.  I recently discovered Barilla ProteinPlus Pasta and it has been such an easy way to get my kiddos the protein they need!

Barilla ProteinPlus Pasta comes in several different varieties including spaghetti, rigatoni and rotini.  It has a whopping 17 grams of protein per 3.5 oz portion plus 7 grams of fiber!  This pasta is made from all natural vegetarian ingredients including a simple blend of egg whites, grains, lentils and chickpeas.  It looks like ordinary pasta, tastes very similar (better if you ask me!) and is also a good source of ALA Omega-3.

Honestly, I struggle with meals.  We are a really busy family so I need things that are quick to make yet satisfy our nutritional goals.  Pasta is quick, easy and a kid-favorite.   Pasta sauce is also easy to sneak vegetables into!  Here’s a recent meal that was enjoyed by all and loaded with protein!

Ingredients:

1 box Barilla ProteinPlus Rotini Pasta
1 lb Italian seasoned ground turkey
1 jar of Barilla Marinara sauce
1 zucchini, grated
Italian blend cheese
Sliced black olives

Directions:

1. Brown ground turkey and boil pasta according to directions on the box
2. Grate zucchini
3. Drain turkey if necessary then add entire jar of marinara sauce and as much zucchini as desired (I used half) to the pan. Heat through and simmer for a few minutes to soften zucchini.
4. When pasta is done cooking, drain then plate your meal with sauce on top of your pasta.  Garnish with shredded Italian cheese and olives if desired.

I served it with a side salad and a breadstick.  This meal was delicious and very satisfying.  It didn’t leave us feeling hungry an hour later or needing a second meal after practice.  That’s a big WIN for us! Barilla Pasta + veggies + protein = Mom’s Best Friends Forever.  This formula will provide me with easy meal ideas that give my family the protein needed for energy to power through sports season after sports season!

Need more recipe inspiration?  Check out the Barilla website and this Pinterest board!

You can find Barilla Better for You products at Walmart including Barilla Whole Grain Pasta, Barilla White Fiber Pasta, Barilla Sauces (gluten free!) and WASA Crispbreads. Barilla Gluten Free pasta is also available and has recently been named one of Parents Magazine’s “Top 25 Allergy Free Foods”.  Get $1 cash back at Walmart with Ibotta when you purchase Barilla Pasta, Barilla Sauce or WASA crispsbread!  Ibotta is an app that offers cash back on items you might purchase at stores you shop at.  It’s definitely worth looking into for money saving opportunities!