Every Day May 2013: Taste Testing Mac & Cheese

So, a little while back my friend Rachel (the riveter) watched some food documentaries and started informing me of some scary stuff regarding the foods we all regularly eat.  One of the things she mentioned (maybe on facebook) was about the yellow dyes (#5 and #6) found in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  These are things that are known to lead to a number of health problems and are even banned in some countries!  This was a scary thing to learn considering the level of adoration my family has for Kraft Macaroni and Cheese!

I've long known we needed to start cutting out processed foods.  Months ago I started reading labels to buy products with no high fructose corn syrup (have you ever tried this?  It's sad the things you'll find this in!)  I started feeling good when I was able to almost completely cut this out from our diets.  I'll admit, sometimes I get lazy, but for the most part I'm really trying hard to avoid HFCS and I don't feel like we're being deprived of much in doing so.

Anyway, after learning the sad news about our beloved Kraft Mac & Cheese, I had refrained from purchasing it in my many trips to the grocery store.  But I was starting to long for the ease of whipping up a box for lunch when we were in a rush or having a staple I knew my kids would always eat, so I went to the grocery store recently with the intent of finding an option of Macaroni & Cheese that did NOT include yellow #5 or #6.  I came home with three options and tonight we taste tested one of them.

The brand is Annie's and it's made with organic pasta, has no artificial flavors, synthetic colors or preservatives.  I had high hopes as I carefully followed the directions and prepared for my kids to enjoy.  While the response wasn't negative, they certainly didn't gobble it up like they always have the Kraft.  While I think over time, they would come to accept this as their macaroni and cheese option, I was really hoping they would not even notice the difference.

As I was checking the boxes of macaroni & cheese at the grocery store, I was surprised to learn that the Kraft "Deluxe" Macaroni & Cheese does not contain the controversial yellow dyes - so I picked up a box to try with the others.  Another thing I find funny in this whole situation is that the Kraft "Cheesy Pasta" (the U.K. Version of Mac & Cheese) doesn't contain them either!

Here's a story about this particular topic, feel free to read it and consider signing the petition to try and get Kraft to remove these harmful ingredients from this childhood staple!

I do realize I also have the option of making homemade macaroni and cheese, which I do from time to time, but it's not something I can just "throw together" so I like the idea of having an option, like Annie's, that I can keep in my pantry and not have to feel guilty about it.

I will now descend from my soapbox.  Thank you for listening.

What are ways you try to ensure you and your family are eating healthy?