How Healthy is a Plate of Mac and Cheese? (2024)

|September 26, 2022

Introduction to Creamy Mac and Cheese

Creamy Mac and Cheese is a straightforward recipe you can cook at home to feed your family. If you have young kids at home, they will surely love its creamy taste. It is a high-calorie food cooked as a staple in countries like America, Italy, and the U.K. If you already know that it is high in fat and calories but still have a craving for this rich and creamy food, then don't worry. You're not alone in this matter. It is a favorite food of many people. Through this blog, we will suggest ways to reduce. The calorie and fat, and how to eat a healthy version of this recipe.

According to a health report, a homemade Mac and Cheese bowl contains:

  • Calorie: 506
  • Fat: 24 grams
  • Protein: 20 grams
  • Carbs: 53 grams
  • Fiber: 3 grams
  • Sodium: 837 mg

As per the nutritionist, you can intake:

  • Calorie: 2000-2500 per day
  • Fat: 44-77 gm per day
  • Protein: 46-56 gm per day
  • Carbs: 225-325 gm per day
  • Fiber: 25-38 gm per day
  • Sodium: less than 2,300 mg per day

Eating a bowl of baked Macaroni and Cheese is safe if you consume a small portion. Healthy Mac and Cheese contain high fat that can increase your cholesterol level. Eating more calorie-containing food can lead to weight gain. If you consume more significant portions of this food, then it can increase your sodium intake. As a result, you will suffer from high blood pressure. Thus eating a moderate amount of baked Mac n Cheese can be a part of your healthy diet.

Simple Ways to Cook Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe

We have got solutions for your baked Mac and Cheese cravings. These simple ways can provide you with healthy food without compromising the flavors.

  • The easiest way to reduce high calories and fat is to replace the cream with skim milk and butter with olive oil or peanut butter.
  • Add parmesan instead of cheddar or mozzarella cheese. Parmesan has fewer calories which makes your food healthy.
  • You can cut the excess cheese, butter, or cream by adding herbs and spices such as white pepper or smoky cumin, adding flavor to your recipe.
  • Add veggies like carrots, cauliflower, or broccoli to your Mac and cheese, making it a fibrous and healthy dish.
  • Instead of plain macaroni made from all-purpose flour, use whole-wheat macaroni to get high protein and fiber.
  • You can also add diced chicken breast, making the recipe healthier and more delicious.
  • Remember to reduce its consumption daily and limit the serving to not more than 250 grams per day.

Recipe of Low-calorie Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

This recipe for macaroni and cheese is both quick and delicious. While fancy versions of this dish can be made with expensive cheeses, they sometimes taste better and cost up to $40 or $50 to prepare. This simple recipe, on the other hand, is both affordable and tasty.

Cook this healthy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe without losing its creamy and tasty flavor.

  • Cook Time: 25 min
  • Servings: 6
  • Nutritional Fact:

Calorie: 200, Fat: 11 gm, Protein: 19 gm, Carbs: 34 gm, Fiber: 4 gm, Sodium: 391 mg.

Ingredients for Creamy Mac and Cheese

  • 1½ cups uncooked whole wheat macaroni
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 3 cups cauliflower florets
  • 2 large carrots, thinly sliced
  • 2 celery ribs, sliced
  • 2 medium-sized onions, chopped
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1½ cups diced chicken
  • 1 cup parse man grated
  • White Pepper crushed (1 tsp)
  • ¼ cup arrowroot powder
  • ½ tsp kosher salt

Directions to Prepare Mac and Cheese

  1. Cook the macaroni in a bowl of water on medium flame. Cook until it becomes tender and soft.
  2. Now drain the excess water and keep the macaroni aside.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Celsius.
  4. Make the béchamel sauce by melting butter in a pan.
  5. Sauté the onions until they become tender.
  6. Add the arrowroot powder into it and keep stirring for 2 minutes.
  7. When the mixture turns thick and golden brown, add almond milk slowly and keep stirring until the sauce turns smooth.
  8. Add grated cheese, pepper, and salt to the mixture and cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Set aside.
  9. Heal olive oil in a pan. Add the chopped cauliflower, broccoli, and carrot and cook it on low flame until the veggies turn soft.
  10. Take a large mixing bowl. Add the béchamel sauce, cooked macaroni, and veggies. Mix all well
  11. Please place it in a casserole dish greased with olive oil.
  12. Bake it for 15-20 minutes and season with salt and pepper.

Serve it hot to your loved ones.

Summing Up on Mac and Cheese

Alcoeats provides you with the best quality and excellent variety of Indian spices. The company is one of the best and leading companies in spice production. Alcoeats offers you products that are pure and do not contain any artificial flavor. We value our customers' health and taste. Those who tried Alcoeats spices once became our regular customers. Try our Chicken and Meat Masala to make your non-veg preparation more delicious and succulent.

How Healthy is a Plate of Mac and Cheese? (2024)

FAQs

How Healthy is a Plate of Mac and Cheese? ›

Are mac and cheese healthy, yes or no? Unfortunately, traditional mac and cheese tends to be unhealthy because it contains high amounts of saturated fats and sodium from butter, cheese, and milk. Additionally, it is calorie-dense and not ideal for those trying to lose weight.

How unhealthy is mac and cheese? ›

While boxed mac and cheese requires very little brainpower or culinary savvy, the combo of refined flour macaroni, ultra-processed cheese sauce, and surprising amounts of sodium — more than 700 milligrams (mg) in a cup serving — that go into popular brands won't leave you with much nutrition on your plate.

Is a box of mac and cheese healthy? ›

It's not surprising that it contains some saturated fat because of the cheese and is considered to be high sodium with 460mg of sodium. One serving also contains 8 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. Most of the calories are coming from carbohydrates, which makes sense since it's a macaroni product.

How many calories are in 1 plate of macaroni? ›

There are 220 calories in 1 cup of cooked Macaroni. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Is a box of mac and cheese too much for one person? ›

A typical box of macaroni and cheese has "about 4 servings per container". Unless you're starving, this is just too much for one person.

What's healthier pizza or mac and cheese? ›

With such a similar nutritional profile, pizza and pasta can be considered equal for weight loss. It is important to remember that whether eating pasta or pizza, portion size is key for weight loss - you can eat pizza and pasta while trying to lose weight if you are mindful of the amount you are eating!

Is mac and cheese worse than fries? ›

Mac and Cheese

But this dairy-laden pasta is just as bad as French fries when you look at the numbers. The average side order at chain restaurants has 436 calories, 24 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat and 1,082 milligrams of sodium.

Can I eat Macaroni during weight loss? ›

“So, if you want to occasionally relish pasta or macaroni, you can by maintaining an overall calorie deficit in your diet,” she noted. Dr Santosh Pandey, MD, Rejua Energy Centre, Mumbai said that one can include macaroni in a weight loss diet, but it is important to do so in a mindful and balanced way.

Are egg noodles healthier than pasta? ›

Are Egg Noodles Healthy? Egg noodles can give you extra nutrients that regular pasta won't, though they also lack in some areas compared to pasta. Still, you don't have to choose only one. Add both to your pantry for a well-rounded diet and supplement each with vegetables, proteins, and other sources of nutrients.

Which is healthier spaghetti or noodles? ›

Nutritional Superiority:

Beyond the sensory experience, Pasta made from Durum Wheat Semolina offers notable nutritional advantages over noodles made from maida. Durum wheat semolina is rich in essential nutrients, including fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

How much mac and cheese should I eat? ›

Also, keep in mind that because mac and cheese is typically rich and calorie-laden, you should enjoy it in moderation and limit your serving size to no more than 1 cup (approximately 150–250 grams) per serving. There are several ways to lower the calorie count of your mac and cheese, as well as make it healthier.

How many servings in a full pan of mac and cheese? ›

As a guideline though you can figure a minimum of 25 serving from a half pan and 50 servings from a full.

Is mac and cheese easy to digest? ›

In conclusion, while mac and cheese can be difficult to digest for some people, there are several ways to make it more digestible. Swapping traditional ingredients for alternative options, adding probiotics to the diet, and making lifestyle changes can all improve digestive function.

Is macaroni a junk food? ›

Is pasta unhealthy? Refined pasta, which is what most of us are familiar with, is not considered healthy or nutritious on its own. This is because refined pasta is high in carbohydrates, without offering much else in the way of nutrients.

What WTF is mac and cheese? ›

The traditional macaroni and cheese is a casserole baked in the oven; however, it may be prepared in a sauce pan on top of the stove or using a packaged mix. The cheese is often first incorporated into a Béchamel sauce to create a Mornay sauce, which is then added to the pasta.

Is frozen mac and cheese unhealthy? ›

Too much sodium increases the risk of several health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, stomach cancer, and osteoporosis. Packaged and processed food can be excessively high in sodium, and frozen mac and cheese is no exception.

Is a Big Mac actually unhealthy? ›

The real dangers lie in the saturated fats and other additives found in the burger and fries (and plenty of other foods that may be in your own home). "Excessive consumption of saturated fats can lead to elevated cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease," Richards warns of the Big Mac.

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