How do I make macaroni and cheese healthy?!
Answers: Ok, so I only have a cheap box a mac and cheese, and I want to make it a one dish meal. What can I add in it? What kind of veggies, meat, etc? I really only want healthy suggestions.
Add broccoli, adding meat can add to the fat in it, broccoli has lots of fiber so it will help you feel full, plus you can't go wrong with broccoli and cheese!
bits of broccoli have always worked for me in pasta with cheese...
add tuna and peas and make like a tuna casserole its really good. Better than it sounds.
Let's see now mac & cheese in a box;
My sons were addicted to Kraft dinner during high school & university. I did a switch up a few years ago and made the mac & cheese according to the box directions and then in a baking pan I put a tin of tomatoes(fresh tomatoes are fine if you have them) with finely sliced onion and added about 1/2" milk on the bottom seasoned with salt & pepper and added the mac & cheese. Put it in 350F oven for 1/2 -3/4 hour and served with fresh crusty bread or rolls.
We all like it this way now.
Still make a similar thing but I will cook some elbow maccaroni to mix with the tomatoes and top with grated cheddar & black pepper and top with a few dabs of butter. This way it comes out of the oven a little crispy on top. We still like it. I don't add meat or veggies but always have a salad on the side.
leave out the butter, add fat free milk combined with low sodium chicken stock for the liquid, throw in some frozen but steamed veggies such as peas or broccoli, then for the meat you could do some white meat chicken. It's probably best not to buy things from a box though if you're trying to be healthy just because of all the extra sodium in the mixture.
HEALTHY MACARONI AND CHEESE
8 oz. cooked & drained whole wheat
pasta elbows or shells or penne
1 1/2 c. low-fat cottage cheese
3 T. powdered cheddar cheese**
3/4 c. no fat sour cream
1 can evaporated skim (no fat) milk
1 c. shredded low fat sharp cheddar
(or veggie cheddar cheese)
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 egg whites & 1 whole egg
2 Tbsp. grated fresh onion
1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
3 Tbsp. Fresh grated parmesan cheese
Sweet Hungarian paprika
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray 2 quart casserole.
2. In food processor blend cottage cheese, eggs, powdered cheese & sour cream.
3. Transfer to bowl and add all but macaroni and paprika.
4. Stir in macaroni. Correct for salt and pepper. Sprinkle top with paprika.
5. Put baking pan with 1" of boiling water in oven. Set casserole inside this pan. Yes, it's like making a custard, but if you don't do this it won't win the blue ribbon!
6. Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until done -- about another 30 minutes. Test with a clean butter knife for "doneness".
SERVES 4 as a main course.
**NOTE: If you can't find powdered cheese add an extra 1/2 c. sharp cheddar. Or, you can use 4 oz. low fat Velveeta OR 2 oz. feta cheese, depending on your individual taste preferences.
Some people use macaroni and cheese for a side dish or vegetable, but this is so good you'll want it for your main course!
You can add a can of peas and carrots to it and maybe some tuna fish or browned ground turkey.
Tuna, Lean Ham, Cooked Carrots, Green beans, Broccoli, But I would make it from scratch using whole wheat pasta, a cheese sauce which I make by adding a cup of grated cheeses to a number 2 white sauce which is 2 tbs butter or margarine, 2 tbs flour and one cup skim milk. Melt shortening in a sauce pan, remove from heat, add flour and mix till they are well blended, add milk return to heat and stir till thickened about 3 to 5 min. Add grated cheeses I prefer cheddars and other sharp cheeses like Romano. When cheese is melted add to the pasta along with any other ingredients and put in casserole back in oven @350F for 20 to 25 min it's so much better and healthier than boxed.
fat free milk or soy milk
little to no butter
and tomatoes are good in there...no meat
Add Salsa and also chopped Peppers and Onions.