Friday’s Last Spoonful: Boxed or Frozen

Macaroni and cheese in an instant

The Mixed Stew has a recipe for macaroni and cheese that will knock your socks off, but what if you have a craving for mac 'n cheese and need a quick hit until you have the time to create that homemade delight? You don’t have to go very far to find instant macaroni and cheese options at the grocery store. Kraft’s Macaroni and Cheese comes in three different variations: regular, Deluxe, and Kraft Easy Mac. Regular requires milk and butter or (margarine). The Deluxe requires no additional ingredients and comes with a vacuum sealed pouch of cheese sauce that you must add to freshly cooked macaroni. Finally, the Kraft Easy Mac consists of individual servings, which just need water and zapping in the microwave. At Giant, we’ve also seen an organic alternative of boxed macaroni and cheese, which is made by Annie's Homegrown Inc. On a related note, Velveeta Shells and Cheese is actually a product made by Kraft Foods.

The Mixed Stew has found that frozen macaroni and cheese comes in either family size or individual servings. Stouffer’s Family Size Macaroni and cheese as well as Banquet Family seem to be the most prevalent. Picky eaters may find Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheese or Glutino 3 Cheese Macaroni & Cheese (a gluten free variety) in some specialty markets. Look for frozen individual servings of macaroni and cheese by Lean Cuisine, Stouffer’s and Michelina’s.

Helpful hint: As with all packaged foods, practice moderation. High sodium content combined with preservatives can make these products work against any New Year's resolution to follow a healthy diet plan. Remember to take in generous portions of vegetables and protein for a more balanced diet.