Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Have you ever met a child who doesn’t love mac and cheese? Try this healthier, high-calcium version — once again, they won’t know the difference between this and the higher fat, artery-clogging one.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 pound macaroni noodles

3 tablespoons trans-fat-free margarine

3 tablespoons flour

Salt and pepper to taste

3 cups low-fat milk

3 cups low-fat Cheddar cheese, shredded

Nonstick cooking spray

¹⁄₂ cup corn flake crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Cook macaroni as per package directions, and set aside.

3. Melt margarine in a small pot over low heat. Add flour, salt, and pepper to make a paste.

4. Slowly add milk, whisking until thickened.

5. Add cheese to mixture, and continue to mix until smooth and cheese is melted.

6. Pour the sauce over the noodles, and mix well.

7. Spray cooking spray into a casserole dish. Pour noodles into casserole dish.

8. Sprinkle with corn flake crumbs.

9. Bake for 1 hour.

A Word about Those Whole Grains

If your children do not grow up with “that brown bread,” it is much harder to introduce whole grains into their world as they get older. Be sure that the whole wheat bread that is purchased reads “whole wheat flour” as the very first ingredient on the label. This goes for whole wheat pasta as well. Always remember, what they “grow up” on is what they get comfortable with. Hint: there are companies now making whole wheat bread, with nice amounts of fiber, that are “white” in color — if you really come up against resistance. It is certainly better than eating pure white bread.