Lighten Up Mac and Cheese For Guilt Free Comfort | Low Cal Recipe Tips

Enjoying Mac and Cheese While Keeping Calories Low

Macaroni and cheese is a comfort food favorite across America. With its creamy texture and cheesy flavor, it's easy to see why. However, traditional mac and cheese recipes are loaded with calories from full-fat cheese and heavy cream or milk.

The good news is, it's possible to still enjoy this delicious dish while keeping calories under control. With a few easy ingredient swaps and healthy recipe hacks, you can have your mac and cheese and eat it too - guilt free!

Choosing Low-Calorie Cheeses

One of the easiest ways to lighten up mac and cheese is to use reduced-fat cheese. Options like low-moisture part-skim mozzarella or reduced-fat cheddar contain around half the calories of their full-fat counterparts.

Swiss and colby jack cheese also tend to be lower in calories than many other cheese varieties. Just be sure to shred or dice the cheese into small pieces to help it melt evenly throughout the pasta.

Trying Non-Dairy Cheeses

In addition to reduced-fat dairy cheeses, non-dairy cheese alternatives can be used to keep calories down. Choices like Daiya and Follow Your Heart are made from plant-based ingredients like potato and arrowroot.

While they may seem exotic, many of these non-dairy cheeses melt remarkably similarly to the real thing. Just note that some non-dairy cheeses do still contain coconut oil or other fats, so be sure to check labels if your main goal is cutting calories.

Bulking Up With Veggies

One of the easiest ways to add nutrients and cut calories in mac and cheese is to incorporate veggies. Hearty, vitamin-packed options like broccoli, spinach, tomatoes and roasted red peppers mix in perfectly with the cheesy pasta.

Not only do the added vegetables increase the nutrition content overall, they also bulk up the dish, meaning you can use less of the high-calorie pasta and cheese in each serving.

Choosing Whole Grain Noodles

Just as veggies can boost nutrition, so too can swapping out traditional white pasta for a whole grain noodle variety. Options like whole wheat elbows, brown rice macaroni or quinoa pasta shells give you much needed fiber and protein.

This helps ensure that your mac and cheese keeps you feeling full and satisfied. Plus, many whole grain pastas actually have fewer calories per serving compared to plain white pasta.

Cutting Fat With Greek Yogurt

That creamy texture that makes mac and cheese so crave-worthy usually comes courtesy of adding milk, cream or butter to the mix. To keep your recipe light, try using protein-packed Greek yogurt instead.

Stirring a few heaping spoonfuls into the hot finished pasta incorporates the same rich creaminess with a fraction of the calories. Plus, it adds an extra boost of hunger-satisfying protein to keep you powered through your day.

Putting It All Together - A Light Mac and Cheese Recipe

While it may seem difficult to imaging a lighter version actually stacking up flavor-wise to the rich and indulgent original, this lightened up baked mac and cheese recipe gives the classics a run for their money!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces whole grain elbow pasta
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 cups reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded/li>
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
• 1/4 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and set aside.
2. Cook pasta 2 minutes shy of package instructions. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop cooking. Return to pot.
3. While pasta cooks, whisk milk and yogurt together until smooth. Pour over pasta and stir to coat.
4. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella and veggies until well combined. Pour into prepared baking dish.
5. Top with bread crumbs and bake 20 minutes until hot and bread crumbs are crispy.
6. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra shredded cheese if desired.

This slimmed-down baked mac and cheese is perfect for a quick meatless weeknight meal. It delivers the same comfort food satisfaction at a fraction of the calorie cost!

More Tips for Lightening Up Mac and Cheese

While the recipe above puts all the low-calorie mac and cheese tips together into one complete dish, you can also incorporate them individually depending on your needs:

Use Reduced Sodium Products

In addition to being high in calories, many prepared mac and cheese products and powdered cheese sauces contain immense amounts of sodium. Choosing low-sodium options for any boxed or canned ingredients can help keep salt in check.

Skip the Bread Crumbs

While they do add crunch and texture contrast, topping your mac and cheese with buttered bread or cracker crumbs adds calories you just don't need. Leaving them off prevents excess carbs and fats.

Mix in Lean Proteins

Incorporating healthy lean proteins like chicken, shrimp or beans into your mac and cheese helps turn it into a balanced meal. The extra protein will help keep you feeling satisfied while providing essential nutrients.

Portion Control

No matter what healthy tweaks you make, keeping serving sizes reasonable is key for any high calorie food like mac and cheese. Measure out proper portions rather than just scooping out of the pan for the best calorie control.

The Takeaway on Low Cal Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese lovers rejoice - you really can enjoy this ultimate comfort food while maintaining healthy calorie consumption. By combining various easy ingredient swaps and recipe tweaks, it's simple to create lighter versions that don't skimp on flavor.

So go ahead and whip up an guilt-free batch using the healthy recipe above. Just be prepared for it to disappear quickly once your family and friends get a taste! It's that good!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.