When you hear the word Mac n’ Cheese - you instantly are drawn back to a simpler time, when, as a kid, you ate this cheesy, noodle goodness until your head exploded. Or until your older brother yelled at you to never make it again because the smell of the fake, powdered cheese made him nauseous.

Being older, I have come to appreciate Mac n’ Cheese. Not just as a side-dish, or meal-for-a-day, but a full on health-conscience dish that can be mixed with just about anything.

If you haven’t tried Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese, run to the store and pick up a box. White Cheddar or “orange”, I am sure you won’t be disappointed. It’s the healthier choice if you go this route for lunch or dinner - or dare I say…breakfast. It’s a quick 15 minutes from start to finish and you don’t have to add butter! Just the powder with some low fat milk.

To add some substance to these cheesy noodles, open your fridge and start throwing things in! I have no doubt that you have some vegetables in your fridge at this very moment. I bet you ANYTHING you have a bag of frozen vegetables in your freezer just waiting to get on the stove and mixed in with something delicious. So often, we all buy the healthy fruits and vegetables but never cease to turn them into something good for our bodies and souls.

So, why not grab some, dice them up and put them in with your Mac n’ cheese? You won’t have anything wasting away in your fridge, and you will feel a lot better about the choice you just made - making the Mac n’ cheese while on your “health-conscience” diet. Heck, make it a tuna or chicken dish to get some extra protein and you are set!