As a mom of a toddler and a newborn, it goes without saying that I'm short on time.  Most days I'm lucky if I get to take a shower, let alone fix myself something for lunch.  Of course, living in Manhattan, there are a plethora of delivery options well within my grasp, but those tend to get super pricey.  I've also tried frozen meals, but they're often laden with ingredients I can't pronounce and seldom leave me satisfied.  So when I was invited to an exclusive luncheon showcasing Barilla's new microwaveable meals, which are made with only high-quality, 100% natural ingredients and no preservatives, I was intrigued.  I've long been a fan of Barilla and their delicious pastas, sauces, olive oils and other products, so I was optimistic that if anyone could put out a great-tasting shelf-stable meal option, Barilla could.  And of course, Barilla did not disappoint. 

Held at celebrity chef Scott Conant's stunning culinary loft space, the event provided me with an inside look at Barilla's five new varieties of single-serve microwaveable meals, which include Mezze Penne with Traditional Marinara Sauce, Mezze Penne with Tomato & Basil Sauce, Mezze Penne with Spicy Marinara Sauce, Whole Grain Fusilli with Vegetable Marinara Sauce, and Whole Grain Mezze Penne with Tomato & Basil Sauce.  Each 9-ounce package contains one serving of pasta and sauce, and all meals are 320 calories or less.  What's even better is that Barilla's microwaveable meals contain no artificial colors or added preservatives.  Indeed, each item in the ingredient list is something you can both pronounce and recognize - meaning that I not only feel good about eating Barilla's microwaveable meals myself, but also giving them to my 4-year-old daughter Sadie.  As an added bonus, the meals provide between 9 and 11 grams of protein, and the pasta is an excellent source of fiber while the sauce is a good source of vitamin A.  The whole grain varieties are also a good source of iron.  And, at $3.29 per package, Barilla's microwaveable meals are super affordable!

That's all well and good, but how do Barilla's microwaveable meals fare in the taste department?  Quite well, I'm pleased to report!  The revolutionary packaging of these meals maintains the product's taste, texture and freshness, and because the pasta and sauce are stored in separate trays, you can adjust the amount of sauce you want on your pasta.  My daughter Sadie went nuts for the Mezze Penne with Traditional Marinara Sauce, even asking me to pack the leftovers in her lunch the next day.  My personal favorite is the Whole Grain Fusilli with Vegetable Marinara Sauce, which has a sweet and tasty sauce coupled with fresh vegetables that cook to exactly the right texture in the microwave.  Oh, and did I mention that the meals heat up in just 60 seconds?  When you're dealing with a feisty toddler and attention-demanding newborn, every second counts, so this one-minute prep time is beyond fabulous.  For more information, visit www.barillaus.com.