For years the most popular diet slogan was cut the fat. Then it was cut the carbs. Now the latest mantra is: Beef up your lean protein.

In the recent flurry of publicity over low-carbohydrate diets, some diet promoters have depicted beer as an unhealthful source of fattening carbohydrates. Not so, says a brewing expert at the University of California, Davis.

Monterey Gourmet Foods announced today that their Whole Wheat Pasta line, introduced late last year, is proving to be a winner in the marketplace. The sales volume of this new line has grown significantly throughout the year and is expected to represent 15% of Monterey Gourmet Foods' total pasta sales in the third quarter after less than a year on the market. The whole wheat line has been key to the company increasing its overall Monterey Pasta Company brand business above prior year levels in the third quarter. This development is a welcome turn of events after two years of sagging pasta sales attributed to the low-carb diet trend. In addition to improved sales of the Monterey Pasta Company brand, the company is also seeing strong contribution from its acquisitions, Sonoma Cheese Company and Casual Gourmet Foods, CIBO Naturals and Emerald Valley Organics.

Splenda has enjoyed increasing popularity over the past few years, mainly due to the impact of the South Beach Diet on the public. Sales have reportedly increased 50 percent in the past year.

A new type of bread was created for the low-carb dieters, following Atkins or South Beach diet line.