The Simple Way To Add More Protein To Family Pasta Night

There’s a reason pasta night never really disappears from the family dinner rotation. It’s fast, familiar and, on nights when everyone is tired and at least one child has already declared they’re “not that hungry,” it’s reliably met with very few complaints.

Canadian parents agree. New research from Catelli’s 2026 survey* shows that 94 percent serve pasta at least once a week, making it more popular than pizza, nuggets, burgers or tacos. It’s the kind of meal that earns its place through sheer dependability.

Still, even our most reliable dinners can come with a quiet side of second-guessing. Many parents are trying to balance extracurriculars and after-school pickups with their desire to serve meals that are both comforting and nourishing. That’s why small, realistic upgrades often matter more than sweeping menu overhauls.

A smarter swap, not a new routine

This is where Catelli® PROTEIN+™ Pasta fits into real life rather than an idealized version of it.

With 17 grams of protein (per 85 g) and the same taste and texture as classic pasta, it's an easy upgrade to the meals your family already loves. Made with plant-based protein from chickpeas, lentils and peas, it provides the great taste you love for a delicious, nutritious meal everyone at the table will enjoy.

In practice, that means butter and cheese pasta stays butter and cheese pasta. The bowl looks the same. The routine stays the same. The only difference is what the pasta itself brings to the plate.

For parents juggling school schedules, work deadlines and the general chaos of family life, that kind of change feels doable.

Why protein keeps showing up in so many parent conversations

If there’s one nutrition word that comes up again and again in family meal planning, it’s “protein.” This isn’t because parents are chasing perfection, it’s because they’re trying to keep everyone feeling satisfied between meals, and maybe to avoid the post-dinner snack hunt an hour later.

The research reflects this: more than two-thirds of parents say it’s important that meals contain enough protein to help keep their kids full.

Adding more protein doesn’t have to mean adding more steps. When the base of the meal already includes it, everything else stays simple, whether dinner is a plain bowl of buttered noodles and cheese or pasta tossed with leftover veggies. It’s still the same flexible, forgiving meal. It just does a bit more work in the background.

A family favourite, recognized by Canadians

Catelli PROTEIN+ Pasta comes in a range of familiar shapes—including macaroni, penne and spaghetti, plus newer options like rigatoni, rotini and spaghettini—so it fits naturally into all those everyday moments. Short shapes for creamy, scoopable dinners and longer strands for simple, twirlable favourites.

It’s not just parents noticing the appeal. Catelli PROTEIN+ has been voted a 2026 Best New Product Awards winner in the Protein Pasta category by Canadian consumers, reflecting a growing interest in foods that balance everyday ease with nutritional benefits. It’s also the winner of the Best Protein Pasta in Chatelaine’s 2026 Pantry Awards, and in a 2026 Brand Spark survey, it was voted the Best New Product Award by Consumers and the Best New Product for Pasta.

Everyday pasta recipes, made a little more satisfying

Today’s Parent’s arsenal of pasta recipes proves how often families lean on the same comforting favourites. There’s the creamy ease of One-Pot Mac and Cheese, the cozy appeal of Chili Mac and the always-welcome Spaghetti and Meatballs with a Secret , alongside lighter, veggie-forward dishes like Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara with Peas and Fajita Pasta. Using Catelli PROTEIN+ Pasta in these recipes simply means getting more protein into the same dinners families already count on, and ones yours will surely love.

The bottom line

For busy families, the best meals are the ones that fit: into schedules, into routines, into kids’ expectations and into parents’ realities. Pasta has always done that part well.

With Catelli PROTEIN+ Pasta, parents don’t have to choose between comfort and confidence. They can keep serving the meals their families already love while making a quiet upgrade that brings more protein to the table.

Ready to upgrade pasta night? Learn more about Catelli PROTEIN+ Pasta and where to buy it.

_{*These are the findings of a study/survey conducted by Catelli Pasta from January 05 to 09, 2026 among a sample of 509 online Canadian parents who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.}