NUTRITIOUS MAC & CHEESE
Nutritious Mac & Cheese Recipe
My daughter is obsessed with mac & cheese as I assume a lot of toddlers are. Honestly, I swear by now that it is her number one comfort food. No matter how she is feeling, a good plate of mac & cheese with some delicious sides can make her day so much better. If your child is also a foodie and cheese enthusiast, this mac & cheese will absolutely fill their belly and leave a smile on their face.
This nutritious mac & cheese recipe with a twist serves one hungry toddler. Most of the time, I end up multiplying the quantities to feed more people. Seriously, it's so yummy, that I make it for the whole family! Today, we are going to dive in fork-first to one of my absolute favorite homemade mac and cheese recipes. It is delicious, nutritious, and easy to cook, making it a true winning dish in my eyes!
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni (small elbows are perfect bite size)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 slice of American cheese, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack for extra flavor. (I use Kraft singles or pre-shredded cheese for ease of use)
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 teaspoon melted margarine or melted butter
1/4 cup whole milk
Chicken breast about the size of your palm
Handful of spinach- about 20 leaves
Salt and pepper (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Using a medium pot, add water, salt, and olive oil.
Bring it to a boil.
Add elbow pasta. Cook until you achieve the desired consistency, usually al dente. Note that whole wheat pasta takes a little bit longer to cook.
Drain the pasta and set aside while you finish the next steps.
While the cooked pasta drains, chop the chicken breast into tiny, tiny, tiny, squares. Almost to the point where you don't see it. Same with the spinach, chop it very small. Disguise it as much as possible.
Using the same pot, melt the cheese, margarine (or butter), and cream cheese using low to medium heat.
Once the cheese, margarine, and cream cheese melt together, add the whole milk to make the cheese sauce more liquid. Stir thoroughly.
Add the chopped chicken breast and spinach to the creamy cheese sauce. Stir until blended. This should take about 3 minutes under low heat.
Combine the cooked macaroni with the sauce. Stir until well mixed.
If you would like to do something new, you can also opt for baked mac and cheese. It is the same process, but instead of serving it up, you pop it in an oven-safe dish, sprinkle on some shredded cheeses, and bake until the cheese on top is golden-brown!
Lastly, enjoy! Happy toddler, Happy parents.
This yummy recipe has everything: whole grains, dairy, protein and veggies. It tastes delicious and my picky baby eats it all up!
Hot tip: You can also add in some extra veggies. Just cut them up as small as possible or even blend them and add them to the cheese sauce. Hidden veggie recipes are the holy grail in my house, because they make it easy to get the good stuff in your little one’s tummy without the meltdowns!
What goes with mac and cheese?
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are a fantastic healthier alternative to regular potato chips. They provide a delicious crunch and plenty of nutritional value to keep your little one healthy. Kids will enjoy the slightly sweet flavor of these chips, making them more inclined to eat all their dinner. They go super well with this macaroni and cheese recipe!
Vegetables
Serving a great variety of veggies such as baby carrots, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and even steamed veggies such as broccoli is a great way to encourage kids to eat their veggies. For the sliced vegetables, you can add some dip to make them more appealing. Or for steamed veggies, you can add some of the cheesy sauce from your mac and cheese!
Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is a classic side dish that pairs splendidly with mac and cheese. My kids love the buttery, garlic flavor and the crunchy texture of the bread. To make it even better, I add some melted cheese on top!
Muffins
While not a side, I think dessert is super important. However, I don’t really like hyping my kids up before bed with unnecessary sugar. Really, what parent does want that? However, my muffin recipe is super versatile.
You can make it as sweet or savory as you like, adding blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, or savory options like cheese and herbs. They are super easy to make ahead of time making food prep a dream. They can also be customized to suit your little ones' tastebuds!
Why is good nutrition so important for children?
Good nutrition plays a pivotal role in a child’s growth, development, and overall well-being for many reasons. In fact, eating nutrient-rich foods can help with
Healthy growth and development
Strong immune system
Optimal brain function
Increased energy, and stamina
Maintaining a healthy weight
Building strong bones and teeth
Supporting organ function
Creating healthy skin and nails
Establishing lifelong healthy eating habits
Healthy plates, happy kids!
There are some pretty huge connections between healthy children and consuming nutritious meals! In fact, nutrition is a massive part of a child’s growth and development. That means it is pretty important to make sure your little one is eating well, even when feeding veggies can be a bit hard.
With this meal and all of the other nutritional meals on my blog, you can ensure that your children are getting the very best benefits from their food. While not every meal has to be healthy, it is important that your child is getting everything they need from their diet. Better yet, even parents LOVE these meals!