Pasta with greens and tomatoes (Photo — Yvona Fast)

Pasta has become one of America’s favorite comfort foods. During the winter months (January through March) we all eat even more of it — 20 percent more, in fact. In late winter, it’s a popular meatless Lenten treat. From spaghetti and meatballs to tuna noodle casserole, pasta dishes are a favorite for quick family dinners. One reason for pasta’s popularity has to do with ease of preparation: It is easily made right out of the box. Just boil water, pour in the pasta, and cook. While the pasta cooks, you can prepare everything else to go with it — and presto, dinner is on the table. With our harried lives that allow little time to prepare meals, pasta dishes can be quickly and easily made. Pasta is a complex carbohydrate food. It contains 1 gram of fat, 106 calories and 5 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving (according to mypyramid.gov). Because it’s made from enriched flour, it provides B vitamins, iron and protein.