Like most, your Thanksgiving meal probably means a feast of many different sides in addition to the turkey and desserts. But there’s no reason why you couldn’t prepare healthy versions of those sides to help make the meal a bit more nutritious.
Lindsey Mazanec, M.S., R.D./L.D., a clinical dietitian at Children’s, has whipped up a delicious recipe for mac n cheese that will satisfy your kids’ hunger without all the fat and calories.
Triple Mac n Cheese
- 8 ounces of uncooked elbow macaroni (about 2 cups)
- 1 ½ cups of nonfat or 1% milk
- 1 cup sweet onion (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
- ½ cup reduced fat cheddar cheese
- ½ cup goat cheese crumbles
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 2/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- Nonstick cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Combine chopped onion, and oil and sauté in a medium saucepan for about 5-7 minutes over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for additional minute. Add in milk, and stir constantly until mixture becomes thick, cooking for about 2 minutes. Bring to low heat and stir in ½ cup blue cheese, ½ cup cheddar cheese and ½ cup Parmesan cheese until all cheese is melted.
Cook macaroni pasta according to instructions and drain over the sink
In a large glass baking dish, combine cheese mixture with cooked macaroni. Combine ¼ cup Parmesan with breadcrumbs and sprinkle evenly over the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes in the oven.
