Dreamfield's or Dreamfields Pasta Review... What Would Atkins Say... and What Will the Markets Say?

My family, like most other American families, loves pasta. We have tried many low carb pastas, and we have been fooled by some like the Bella Vita brand. Other pastas are more forthright, like the Mueller's Reduced Carb Pasta. It has roughly half the carbs of regular pasta because it has more protein and fiber instead of just white flour. What does this mean? It means it won't stick! Other than that, it tastes pretty much the same as regular pasta to me, although somewhat more stiff or al dente.

So, if I had to use categories, I would use the following:

Category 1 -- The Same Old, Same Old: Regular pastas that have tons of carbs that we can't eat anymore (For example, Barilla.)

Category 2 -- The Crunchy Granola: Whole wheat pasta that still has tons of carbs but it is better than the regular white pastas because it has some fiber (if you didn't have any other alternative.)

Category 3 -- The Imposter: Low carb pastas that don't measure up to the carb count on the label*

Category 4 -- The High Priced Floozy: Low carb pastas that do measure up to the carb count on the label, taste terrible, and are WAY overpriced (For example, Atkins, the new Bella Vita, etc.)

Category 5 -- The Only on Sundays: Reduced carb pastas that are quite acceptable from a taste standpoint, but can be eaten only as a real treat (For example, Mueller's and Anthony's)

and....

Category 6 -- The Best or The Too Good To Be True?: Dreamfield's Pasta, which has a "digestible carb per serving claim" on the label.... A "what" type of claim on the label? A "net carb" claim? Nononono... a "digestible carb" claim, not a "net carb" claim. Most longtime Atkins' followers understand what net carbs mean. You take the total carbohydrates and subtract the fiber, and, if you aren't susceptible to sugar alcohols, you subtract them too. Therefore, a hypothetical label might look like this:

Total Carbohydrates 40
- Fiber 10
- Sugar Alchohol 10
--------------------------
Net Carbs 20

Fiber does not have an impact on blood sugar, so it can be ignored. There is a debate about how to treat sugar alcohols. Some people think they can be ignored, other people think they can't. This may be based on your own manner of processing food. So, the upshot is, if you aren't losing weight or you are gaining weight and you eat a lot of sugar alcohols, cut out the sugar alcohols. (And, as always, try to eat no more than 300 calories of non-natural low carb foods a day.)

Anyhow, all of the above is background for the "digestible carb per serving claim." Does this put Dreamfield's into category number 3, The Imposter -- Low carb pastas that don't measure up to the carb count on the label*, or does it mean that it is in its own category 6, The Best or The Too Good To Be True -- Dreamfield's Pasta, which has a "digestible carb per serving claim" on the label. Now, this is the question. It even has been debated in the comment section in some of my previous posts on Dreamfield's pasta here and here.

Well, there is one source on the Internet that does seem to be a reliable source. He is a diabetic, and he seems to be extremely thorough. His name is Rick Mendosa and he has his own website, Mendosa.com. He has tested his blood sugar levels after eating Dreamfield's pasta and his blood sugar did not rise appreciably. He has also contacted the inventor of the pasta to try to get a cogent explanation of how this works:

One carbohydrate expert speculated that the Dreamfields Pasta must contain a large amount of resistant starch or other kinds of dietary fiber. No, that isn’t they way they did it, says Dr. Jon Anfinsen, the inventor of the process.

The technology behind Dreamfields Pasta results in most of the carbohydrate grams becoming “protected” or non-digestible, Dr. Anfinsen tells me. It “involves molecular interactions that help block the enzyme from attacking the carbohydrate starch granule. It is not encapsulated. We have basically creating the situation where there is a matrix more or less that has a tendency to attract the enzyme to the matrix and not the carbohydrate.”

These non-digestible carbohydrates aren’t counted as fiber, but they “start to act as fiber in the colon,” Dr. Anfinsen says. “They perform just like any other fiber in the colon; whether it be a soluble or an insoluble fiber that is fermented, it acts the same.”

Because the way our goverment makes us count carbohydrates, there is no easy way to put this on the label, just like net carbs. Carbohydrates, by definition, are everything that is not protein and not fat.

According to Mendosa's article, if you are extremely resistant to insulin then it could cause a spike, but then most things would cause a spike. Also, the makers of Dreamfield pasta seem to contact customers who have problems with their product to try and find out what is wrong or if there are other factors that might contribute to the problem. (The makers of Bella Vita pasta, on the other hand, didn't even refund a customer's money when she had the pasta shipped to her and it was noticably different from the previous pasta.)

So, based on the above, I would put Dreamfield's pasta into its own category 6, The Best or The Too Good To Be True, and cautiously shorten the name to The Best rather than lump it in with category 3, The Imposter. (It tastes delicious for one thing! It isn't stiff in the slightest.)

In fact, I agree with Rick Mendosa, category number 6, The Best, could be the biggest category since sliced bread. And if it is, then business could be booming. Read this business article and this business article for more. (And I do wish Dr. Atkins were alive! I would love Dr. Atkins' opinion on Dreamfield's pasta! I know he would be honest about it. We'll have to rely on Rick for this.)

Now, on to more practical matters. If you want to make a lasagna or have rotini, you have to use the Mueller's Reduced Carb pasta. I have made many lasagnas (and not only on Sundays,) and people don't even know that the noodles are low carb! Again, it is a little more stiff than regular lasagna. If you want linguine, you have to eat the Dreamfield's. Both have spaghetti, penne and elbows.

Dreamfield's Nutrition Facts

Serving size 2 oz.
Servings per container: 8
Calories 190
Calories from fat 10
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 0mg
Total Carbohydrates 42g
Dietary Fiber 4g
Sugars 1g
Protein 7g

Additional Label:
Carb Facts

Total Carbs 42
Controlled Carbs 37
Net Digestible Carbs 5

I have found it at Shaw's and Albertsons for $2.89. BJ's has the penne and elbows. Also reported sightings at Wal-mart. (Update: 3/8 2005, numerous accounts that Wal-mart no longer carries Dreamfields. More here.) Available also at netrition.com.

Mueller's (or Anthony's) Reduced Carb Rotini & Spaghetti & Lasagna Noodles

Serving Size 1 cup dry or 2 oz. dry
Calories 200
Servings Per Container 6
Cholesterol 0
Total Carbohydrate 31 g
Deitary Fiber 12g
Sugars 1g
Protein 16 g

Reduced Carb Spaghetti $1.99
Reduced Carb Rotinni $1.99
Reduced Carb Lasagna $2.49

I have found the Mueller's at Market Basket, Shaws and Stop & Shop. (For where to find these around the country, read this on Anthony's, Ravarino and Freschi, and Mueller's low carb lasagna noodles.)

Update: Where to Buy Dreamfields Pasta

I have received emails/posts such as these:

I live in the New Haven Ct. area and I usually shop at Stop and Shop. I have not seen you product there yet. Can you direct me to a retail store in the greater New Haven area ( New Haven,
West Havem, Milford or Orange Ct.) that carries your products? Thank you.

and

Please advise where I can purchase dreamfield pastas in nyc and long island area. Please advise me on low carb pasta sauces and add me to your list.

This is the page that you should monitor to find out where Dreamfield's pasta is/should be/will be sold. HOWEVER, you should know that some chains do not roll out items all at once. They have teams of people who come in and reset the aisles so, even though the chart says it should be there, it may not be there -- yet. In this case, I would talk to the store manager of the chain and ask them when the new items are expected to be in this particular store.

Now, I know some of you might not want to hear this, but some of the smaller stores may not carry all items, and Dreamfields pasta may or may not be on the list for that particular store. Again, all I can tell you is to talk to the store manager. If the store manager gets requests, the store should carry the item. (This will also tell you if the store manager is any good. If he or she can't get a product into his or her store that has been requested by a lot of people and seems to have some "buzz," then he or she shouldn't be the store manager.)

They also don't seem to update that site very much because BJ's is not listed and I have found it there.

However, you can also buy Dreamfield's pasta from netrition.com (Their price of $2.49 is cheaper than the price at my local market. If you make an order, order the Keto jelly as well! It is far better than anything else you will buy at your local store.)

Now, finally, I don't work for Dreamfields (so it isn't "my product"), but I have this to say about Dreamfield's PR/Marketing machine -- it is very good.

Update:  And see how low carb pasta can fit in the perfect low carb holiday/Christmas gift basket!

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*(Regarding Bella Vita pasta, I have a box of their old formula that was white in color and, I guess, was pulled from Trader Joe's, and their new formula that should match the carb count on the label. I'd be happy to send it to anyone. Try your own taste test or get it tested in a lab! Just contact me!)

(Regarding Mueller's, in my initial post I said that it used soy, it doesn't. It uses wheat protein and fiber to reduce the carbohydrates.)

Comments

[laura]

My daughter and i are on low carb diet, the other family members don't want to eat anything thats low carb. When i bought my first box of dreamfield i couldn't believe what i ate was low carb...I then bought another box of penne and made a low carb italian dish but, didn't tell the family. Well, they didn't notice any difference, in fact they said it tasted better. Then i told them what i did, they didn't believe me until i showed them the box in the garbage.... Now we can have pasta without all the guilt.. dreamfield pasta makes it easier to stick to a low carb diet

[Diane]

In Southern California, I got Dreamfields at Von's. On sale this week, 2 boxes for $4. WHAT A DEAL!

[Bonnie]

I have hypoglycemia, and my husband is a Type II diabetic. I cooked Dreamfields pasta with a tomato sauce we had eaten many times. We did not eat anything else during the meal. This let us test JUST the pasta. About 3 hours after we ate the pasta, our blood sugar began to rise. My blood sugar shot up, and then crashed. I had the "drunk" feeling of high blood sugar before the crash. My husband's blood sugar rose, and his legs hurt that night (a sure sign of high blood sugar for him). I understand that the LENGTH of cooking can drastically affect the amount of "digestible carbs". I called the company, and was told that other people have complained of the same thing. The trick of "hiding the carbs" does NOT work for everyone. You should test your blood sugar for at least FOUR hours after eating that pasta.

[gwb]

dreamfields is without a doubt the best low carb pasta. I also use a pasta with extra soy added. Thing is dreamfields isnt super high in protein or fiber.

[Kim Newell]

I live in Phoenix, AZ and decided to try Dreamfield's penne pasta after reading all of your great reviews. Wow, is all I can say. It was wonderful. My husband, who is my experiment with new low-carb products, said that he liked it and would eat it again! Woohoo! I got it at Fry's for $2.50 on sale (normally $2.99). I have paid as much as $5.99 for really crapping low-carb pasta, so even at $2.99, this is such a deal!

[Laurie Fiedler]

If you live in phoenix, arizona you can find Dreamfields spagetti or the penne pasta for $1.98 at any of the Walmart Supercenters. and at a great price!

[Sandy]

I have found Dreamfields at the Walmart Supercenters. I have found them to run approximately $1.89 a box (give or take a few cents).
It is absolutely the best. I am gestational diabetic and it did not have a big effect on my glucose levels. Although my condition will reverse itself, my family plans to continue "watch" our carb intake after I deliver. Being a pasta loving, red blooded Italian...Dreamfields is a lifesaver!

[Georgia]

I have found dreamfield pastas at the Pick-N-Save store in Janesville, Wi. It is all everyone said it is - wonderful! We are foster parents for five teenage girls and I served it to the whole family; once as spagetti and once as chicken/broccoli alfredo and none of them stated anything negative. Low carb eating just keeps getting better!

[Kim]

Dreamfield's is the best low carb pasta ever. I lost 50 pounds on Atkins last year but then met the man of my dreams who loves junk food so I gained 10 pounds back and decided to go back on Atkins. My willpower however isn't as good this time around and Dreamfields makes it possible to "cheat" without really cheating. Best product ever. I have found it at Walmart and Wegmans.

[Lucy]

I just purchased Dreamsfield Pasta and I could not believe it! I am a big pasta lover. Who isn't? It tasted just like regular pasta. I had been reading the messages posted regarding this new amazing product and enjoying all the positive feed backs and at the same time thinking of all the wonderful ways I can incorporate this amazing product into different types of meals, until I came across message posted by "Bonnie, August 28, 2004". I'll tell you after reading her message, it pretty much took away all the joy and a promising future with Dreamsfield that I was looking forward to. Bonnie would know because she has diabetes and I am thrilled that she posted her opinion. My philosophy is just eat in moderation and don't eat carbs after 6pm or eat carbs atleast 4 hours before bedtime. Good luck!

[larry]

live in whitefish montana 59937, where can I find dreamfield pasta

[Rebecca]

I have tried several "reduced carb" and high fiber pastas. I decided to give Dreamfields linguine a try with a nice meat sauce. My mother was over for dinner and with her compliments on the delicious pasta, I informed her it was "low impact carb"...I had to show her the box. Love it!! Found in Illinois/Missouri at Schnuck's Markets and SuperWalmarts.

[Lauren]

Hello,
I have been doing atkins for over a year and frequently buy dreamfields pasta. I eat the dreamfields pasta regularly sometimes 1-2x a week. It hasn't caused any weight gain for me or spikes in blood sugar either. I live in the l.a area and you can find the pasta at ralph's and gelsons.

[Lisa]

I live in Berkley, Michigan(Detroit area) and found Dreamfields at Meijers. They carry the whole line. I think it was $2.59 a box. We really enjoyed the elbows and spaghetti with meat sauce. I would rather live without pasta than eat other low carb pastas, but Dreamfields tastes like regular pasta! A very nice treat!

[melissa]

I tried Dreamfields penne pasta for dinner tonight.It was awesome.I loved it.

[melissa]

I tried Dreamfields penne pasta for dinner tonight.It was awesome.I loved it.

[Carmie]

My husband and I have been eating low carb style for a year... we have not only lost a tremendous amount of weight... but we have been eating very healthy and enjoying it. Dreamfields has added to that healthy enjoyment. I have used it for ourselves, I have given it for gifts to my friends and relatives, so they too can get hooked, and they do... it's the greatest way to satisfy that taste for pasta without sacrificing the low-carb life style. I'm looking forward to more kinds and shapes of the dreamfields pasta.

[Lynda]

They need to make lasagna and shell noodles next!!

[Dan]

Dreamfields is the best...taste great and low carb all the way. I signed up for thier email newsletter at www.dreamfieldsfoods.com and they sent me a 55 cent coupon for download. You can also buy it by the case on this site.

[cindy]

Dreamfields pasta is THE best whether on low carb or not. In Charleston/Mt. Pleasant - I buy Dreamfields at Publix. I wrote to Atkins to see what they thought of this pasta but they could not comment since they don't know the process in full to make this pasta.

Let's all hope it's not a fake -- It's amazing

[Robert]

Dreamfield pasta has a very good tast and texture. It is available in Northern California at Safeway. I hope they come out with more shapes i.e, Farfalle

[Joyce Orent]

I live in Chandler, AZ 85248.. Where can I find Mueller's Pasta near me..

[Vincent Bove]

I live in toms river new jersey.Can you tell me where to purchase your pasta.

[Bridget]

I just found out about Dreamfields yesterday and found it at my local Super Target (Lafayette, LA). According to Dreamfields' website Albertsons carries it too but I haven't seen it in our local Albertsons stores. I'm originally from the NE US and part Italian so living pasta-free was getting to be a serious challenge.:-) It was terrific and my hubby seemed to enjoy it too. He acted very non-chalant but did have a second serving. :-) I was a little concerned about the gas problems others reported on other forums, thinking this might like a carb version of Olestra (I was mostly concerned for hubby b/c he tends to have gastro-intestinal problems) but so far, so good. I guess as long as you keep to reasonable portions you're ok. Thank you, Dreamfields!

[Bridget]

BTW, it was only 1.99 a box at Super Target.