Conventional wisdom tells us that pasta is a natural low-fat food— the fat is in the sauce. For once, conventional wisdom is correct. According to the National Pasta Association, 12-ounce portion of pasta, the recommended serving size, has only 211 calories and 1 gram fat. Even if 4 ounces is a more realistic helping, pasta is a caloric bargain. To keep the sauces in the same category takes some awareness, but with a few commonsense techniques, calories can be kept down without sacrificing taste and texture.