Healthy tip: To punch up the nutrient profile of boxed mac and cheese, add in a handful of spinach or kale, or any leftover veggies like roasted red peppers, mushrooms and zucchini. Read on for a list of my favorite better-for-you mac and cheese options, as well as those that you should avoid. But for those of you who adore this beloved comfort food, I’ve got good news: More and more pre-made mac and cheese options are cropping up in stores. And a tasty first step it was.įor all the Beet Meters, check out the best vegan products.It’s no secret that Kraft Macaroni & Cheese isn’t exactly nutritious. With all this said, this is but the first step in my lifelong journey to find the greatest vegan mac and cheese. In a close second was Upton’s Naturals product with their crispy cheesiness, followed by Pastabilities and the fun-shaped organic pasta.
Despite having to follow the more time-intensive “traditional” method, it had the best combination of texture, flavor, and nutrition. So in sum, the clear winner for me was Modern Table. Protein 10g Final Thoughts on Vegan Mac Taste Test The seitan bacon adds a nice extra smoky touch and additional texture. Everyone loved the crispy cheesy texture and wish there was more of the cheese sauce.
All reviewers agreed it tasted like the real thing. But the fact of the matter is, I saw Upton had an option with “bacon” in it and I was curious. Now I know you’re thinking it’s unfair that I tried two products from one brand and not any others. However, the vegan “cheese” mix needs a little more spice, in our opinion, so add your favorite hot sauce to give this lunchtime favorite a little kick. As far as taste goes, the cheesy sauce does have a subtle nutty taste but if you like cashews you may actually enjoy that. Just one serving of the Vegan is Believin’ contains 12 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber. This easy-to-prepare, creamy Mac and Cheese reminds us of Kraft Classics but because it’s made with cashew nut cheese, it’s a whole lot healthier. Goodles’ Vegan is Believin’ instantly transports you back to your childhood. For future iterations, we would definitely add some pasta water or non-dairy milk to thin out the sauce a bit. The noodle was great but the sauce had an overpowering flavor. Once the noodles are done cooking and drained, simply add in the cheese sauce, mix and enjoy. The cheese sauce came in a pouch that makes for easy prep. It got points for having a gluten-free noodle made from brown rice. There are plenty of boxed mac and cheeses available, so we taste-tested the top brands to let you find what brand is best for you.Īs a plant-based cheese innovator, we had to try Daiya's mac and cheese. Now, you can choose a healthier option for lunch. “If you’re inflamed, you’re not at your best, and until you ditch dairy, you don’t know your true limit.” The Best Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheeses “Dairy is an inflammatory food, and athletes are constantly fighting inflammation to repair broken-down muscles and get back to training,” Dotsie Bausch, Olympic medalist in cycling and executive director of Switch4Good, said, adding that once she abandoned dairy, her recovery time dramatically shortened, so she was able to train at the same high-intensity level more often. However, consuming dairy is linked to increased inflammation, making it harder to breathe, delaying recovery times, and causing joint and muscle pains. The dairy industry often encourages consumers to keep eating cheese and milk products, claiming milk is necessary for good athletic performance. Loma Linda researchers found that drinking milk increases the risk of prostate cancer by 60 percent. Another study found that milk consumption is even more dangerous for men. Those who drink a quarter cup of milk per day show a 17 percent higher risk of breast cancer. One study published in BMC Medicine found that dairy is associated with a significantly higher risk of breast cancers. Traditional boxed mac and cheese is prepared with powdered dairy cheese mixes and dairy milk, making your typical box of macaroni damaging to your health. Milk is the top source of saturated fat in the traditional American diet, according to Lee Crosby, R.D., nutrition education program manager at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.