| My children's favorite meal is macaroni and | | | | chicken. |
| cheese. The cheesier it is the the more he enjoys | | | | Substitute your pasta. There are so many more |
| it. I love it myself, but the cheesier it is, the more | | | | healthy alternatives to the normal macaroni pasta |
| fattening it becomes, too. Here are a few ideas | | | | noodle. Now, grocery stores provide a whole |
| to make that family classic a little better for the | | | | wheat or multigrain pasta that is derived from |
| kids. | | | | wheat flour instead of white. The pasta is brown |
| Add variety to the cheese. Macaroni and cheese | | | | in color but when you add the cheese, no one will |
| is nothing unless it is dripping cheese from both | | | | know the difference. If brown pasta doesn't do it |
| ends of the noodle. But, the cheese your mother | | | | for you, Barilla(R) makes pasta called Barilla Plus(R) |
| chose doesn't have to be the same cheese that | | | | that has additional nutrients to make it more |
| you use. Choose Velveeta(R) Light cheese spread. | | | | nutritious for the eater. The pasta remains the |
| The light version has a third of the fat and melts | | | | natural yellowish color. Dreamfields(R) has |
| much better than regular cheese. This cheese | | | | macaroni noodles that contain only five grams of |
| works well if you prepare your macaroni and | | | | digestible carbohydrates. That means nothing to |
| cheese in a pot on the stovetop. If you are a | | | | your children, but to you it means that they won't |
| person that bakes your macaroni and cheese like | | | | get fat from consuming that specific brand. |
| a casserole, you can substitute fat-free sharp | | | | Add some color to their macaroni and cheese. |
| cheddar for the full fat version and use skim milk | | | | Chop a tomato and stir it into the macaroni and |
| to make it creamy. | | | | cheese prior to serving it. The red makes a bold |
| How about making that side dish the main meal? | | | | statement in the sea of yellow. Tomatoes contain |
| Macaroni and cheese can become the entire meal | | | | antioxidants which are great for your body. If |
| if you add some protein. Turn your side dish into | | | | your children prefer hot foods, add a few crushed |
| a casserole dinner with lean ground beef. This | | | | red peppers or diced red and green peppers to |
| transforms your dish into cheesy beef and | | | | their macaroni and cheese for a bolder flavor. If |
| macaroni. The beef will help to fill your kids up | | | | you don't have any peppers or tomatoes on |
| faster and will give them the protein that their | | | | hand, use a cup of salsa in the macaroni and |
| body needs. Add a teaspoon of chili powder to | | | | cheese in a pinch. |
| give it a southwestern flavor. For a weekend | | | | What about breakfast? Your child would jump at |
| lunch, add chunks of ham to their macaroni and | | | | the chance to be served macaroni and cheese |
| cheese for a quick meal. The meat breaks up the | | | | for breakfast. Add a few pieces of turkey bacon |
| monotony of just having the same dish all of the | | | | or reduced fat bacon to their plate. Crumble the |
| time. Chunks of boneless chicken breasts will also | | | | bacon on top of the macaroni and cheese and |
| work as well as the ham if your child prefers | | | | serve. If bacon is not your child's favorite, add |
| chicken. Hotdogs also work with macaroni and | | | | sausage crumbles. It's unconventional, but it'll taste |
| cheese but because of the nitrites they contain, | | | | good. |
| don't use them as often as you use the ham and | | | | |