Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese nutrition facts are based on the calorie content of one cup of the white cheddar variety. Classic Cheddar Mac & Cheese is a flavorful mac made Annie’s way, with no artificial flavors or colors. Weeknight dinners become easy, cheesy wins for all with this real cheese and organic pasta bliss.
Annie’s Macaroni & Cheese Nutrition Facts
Annie’s mac and cheese from a box is a favorite of both parents and college students, and it is the company’s flagship product. The calories and nutrients of homemade macaroni and cheese will vary depending on the ingredients you choose. Still, one cup of regular homemade macaroni will not produce a product that resembles mac and cheese in any way. Caloric ratio pyramid: This diagram indicates how much of a food’s calories come from carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and alcohol.
How Healthy Is Annie’s Mac & Cheese?
Consumers are divided on whether Annie’s is genuinely nutritious. Even though Annie’s goods are organic and free of GMOs, trans fats, and added sugar, some opponents argue that they are not as nutritious as they claim.
Here are some health benefits of Annie’s mac and cheese:
Protein
One of the reasons macaroni and cheese can be considered healthy is because it contains protein. For example, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner has nine grams of protein per serving. So, if you’re like us and devour the entire box, you’ll get 27 grams of protein. That’s not awful! While the average box of macaroni and cheese is high in protein, it isn’t the best — or healthiest — choice. Eggs, lentils, quinoa, beans, chia seeds, and spirulina are high in protein.
Copper
Another surprise macaroni and cheese health benefit? Copper can be found in abundance in most store-bought brands. Copper is essential for iron absorption and can also help with energy production. Copper deficiency, while uncommon, can cause cardiovascular disease and other problems. Sunflower seeds, cashews, quinoa, avocado, dried apricots, and shiitake mushrooms are all excellent sources of copper.
Manganese
Macaroni and cheese, whether canned or boxed, is a good source of manganese in addition to copper. Manganese is a naturally occurring antioxidant that can neutralize harmful free radicals, protect the body from premature aging, enhance metabolism, and is necessary for brain health. However, receiving manganese from a more nutritious source is preferable. Leafy greens, berries, turmeric, almonds, garlic, and grains are high in manganese.
Cheese High In Vitamin B12
Vitamin B-12 (also known as Cobalamin) is the world’s most extensive and most complicated vitamin. It improves various mental health processes while also creating red blood cells, proteins, and DNA. Vitamin B-12 anemia, also known as pernicious anemia, is a deficiency that can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, and, in extreme cases, neurological impairment. This vital vitamin can only be found in animal products or supplementation, either naturally or synthetically, and it has no adverse side effects when ingested in large amounts. The excess is retained in the body until it is required, and it can be kept for up to a year.
How To Make Macaroni & Cheese Healthy?
The famous dish can nevertheless be deemed unhealthy despite the health benefits of store-bought macaroni and cheese and Kraft blue boxes containing no artificial flavors, preservatives, or synthetic colors. However, there are methods to make macaroni and cheese more nutritious. Going vegan with a butternut squash sauce instead of cheddar cheese is a popular way to make macaroni and cheese healthier. You can also try substituting yogurt for some cheese or adding some vegetables to the mix. You can also add garlic for extra flavor and health benefits. Some people recommend using whole wheat noodles when preparing macaroni and cheese from scratch. You may also add spinach, use low-fat milk instead of whole milk, and season the sauce with turmeric.
Annie’s Homegrown Macaroni & Cheese
Features:
- MAC AND CHEESE: Our delicious, 25% less sodium, mild cheddar macaroni and cheese is made with organic pasta with real creamy cheese. It’s the perfect meal the entire family will enjoy
- REAL INGREDIENTS: No artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or preservatives.
- MADE WITH ORGANIC PASTA: Made with goodness
- NON-GMO: We work with trusted suppliers to source only non-GMO ingredients.
- CONTAINS: 6 oz
Is Annie’s Brand Healthy?
Annie’s Homegrown has been making natural and organic macaroni and cheese in the shape of bunnies and shells since 1989. Although Annie’s is best known for their mac & cheese—only Kraft sells more of the cheesy comfort food—the firm also makes yogurt, crackers, pretzels, cookies, frozen pizza, sauces, and fruit snacks.
- Even though Annie’s goods are organic and free of GMOs, trans fats, and added sugar, some opponents argue that they are not as nutritious as they claim.
- These opponents point out that Annie’s mac and cheese contain the same number of calories, salt, and saturated fat as Kraft mac and cheese, and Annie’s utilizes refined flour rather than whole grain flour. Annie has responded by stating that its mission is to create healthier, more natural convenience foods.
- Annie’s used to having a line of pasta shaped like Arthur, the aardvark from the children’s books, in addition to bunny-shaped pasta.
- Annie’s also teamed up with the PBS show Arthur to promote reading through Bernie’s Book Club, giving reading ideas for babies to adults.
Is Annie’s Mac & Cheese Bad For You?
Annie’s Homegrown just revealed that it is working with suppliers to remove a dangerous ingredient linked to infertility and learning disabilities from its famous boxed mac & cheese. Phthalates, a chemical often found in plastic manufacturing parts, were phased out by the company, known for using organic ingredients.
“At Annie’s, food integrity and consumer confidence are our top concerns,” according to a statement on the company’s website. “The recent discovery of phthalates detected in dairy ingredients of macaroni and cheese has concerned us, and we are taking this problem seriously.”
Conclusion
Even though Annie’s goods are organic and free of GMOs, trans fats, and added sugar, some opponents argue that they are not as nutritious as they claim. These opponents point out that Annie’s mac and cheese contain the same number of calories, salt, and saturated fat as Kraft mac and cheese, and Annie’s utilizes refined flour rather than whole grain flour. Annie’s has responded by stating that its mission is to create healthier, more natural convenience foods.
