It's National Pasta Month! Top Chef Contestant's 'Skinny' Twists
on the Classics  Love yourself a little mac 'n cheese,
especially when the weather starts to turn cooler? So do we. But
how do we get our fix of crunchy cheesiness without paying the
price with a pooch?  Candice Kumai, a classically trained chef
who made her TV debut as a contestant on season one of Bravo's
Top Chef and who currently serves as ambassador for the National
Pasta Association's "Pasta Fits" campaign, says you can have
your pasta and eat it, too.  Photo credit: Matt Beard  "Many
misconceptions about pasta being unhealthy are actually derived
from the ingredients used to complement the pasta, not the pasta
itself!" Kumai says. "By cooking smaller portions, pairing pasta
with fiber-filled vegetables and legumes and replacing high-
calorie ingredients with smart swaps, you can still enjoy your
pasta while keeping a slim waistline."  To slim down your pasta
bowl, Kumai recommends replacing high-calorie, high-fat
additions like full-fat ch