The exact origin of cannelloni is unknown, but it has been traced back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In fact, it is generally thought to be one of the original shapes used to make pasta. Plus, it is a cylindrical type of lasagna generally served baked with a filling and covered by a sauce in Italian cuisine. Popular stuffings include spinach and ricotta or minced beef. As a matter of fact, pasta can help you lose weight. As shown in a recent study, people who ate pasta as part of the Mediterranean Diet lost more body fat than those who did not.