Healthy Mac & Cheese? (ingredients, substitute, organic, diet)

[radraja]

Sounds like an oxymoron, I know.

I usually lightly dress my pasta in oil and herbs to cut back on excess calories, but mac & cheese is the ultimate comfort food and I get the craving for it a lot.

So I was wondering if anyone knows of any healthy boxed sets or even low-fat cheese sauces that taste okay? I make Annie's organic brand sometimes, but I wasn't sure if there were better options?

[RRBC]

While my mom doesn't make a true "low fat" option, for her baked mac and cheese she makes a white sauce for baking the noodles in with a layer of cheese on top(recipies are all over, it's basically a little bit of butter, little bit of flour, dash of salt, and a decent amount of milk). You could make one of those with skim milk, I'm not sure if you could substitute some fat free butter option instead of the butter, but make that low fat and then use a very strong cheese sparingly on top, a little extra sharp cheddar, a dash of parm, and a bit of another strong cheese so that you have that big strong yummy flavor, with the warm creamy noodles and sauce that makes it such a comfort.

[findinghope]

actually, there is a recipe on food network that uses squash as one of the ingredients. it's by Ellie Kreiger and it's titled Macaroni and 4 cheeses. looks easy enough to make yourself...

[b75]

And instead of using white pasta use brown rice pasta. It is made entirely of brown rice & tastes just like the white pasta only it is better for you.

[findinghope]

Originally Posted by b75

And instead of using white pasta use brown rice pasta. It is made entirely of brown rice & tastes just like the white pasta only it is better for you.

YES! Barilla has the "brown" pasta, costs the same at walmart as the white

[radraja]

I usually use the Barilla Plus or whatever it's called (where it tastes the same as white pasta, but has the benefits of whole grain).

Thanks for your suggestions!

[b75]

Yes there is barilla plus pasta however I am actually referring to something different which is actually healthier imo. The name of the brand is Tinkyada and it is pasta made completely out of brown rice. It is actually sold at some supermarkets & many health food stores. You can also buy it online even via Amazon. It tastes the same as white pasta but is actually brown rice...

Originally Posted by radraja

I usually use the Barilla Plus or whatever it's called (where it tastes the same as white pasta, but has the benefits of whole grain).

Thanks for your suggestions!

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I use whole wheat pasta now. Since I discovered a food allergy some research has shown me that NONE of the boxed stuff is healthy for you with all the preservatives and coloring they have in it.

You can use low fat cheese, margarine and low fat cheese. Some cheeses are naturally low fat.

check out Food Network : Healthy Recipe Collections, Party Ideas, Quick & Easy Recipes, Giada Delaurentis with Everyday Italian has some good recipes.

[b75]

The brown rice pasta is not boxed & is made only of brown rice. And actually the good thing about the brown rice is that people who need a gluten free diet can eat it as well.

[findinghope]

i have never heard of a pasta made of brown rice. i will have to look for that one. the one i use is not Barilla plus, but Barilla whole wheat i think,,,,plus is still white, the other one is actually brown, but in a blue box...
anyway, any one of these options would be great