What could be more comforting than that? 1. Use the following simple swaps and add-ins to make this a healthier, more satisfying meal - like the recipe below, which incorporates all of them. “The pasta, sauce, and mix-ins can all be optimized to provide more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein, with less saturated fat and sodium.” The key is to look for easy ways to up the nutrition ante of this cozy dish while maintaining or even boosting all the cherished flavors. “You can absolutely make mac and cheese a more nutritious, balanced meal without sacrificing taste,” says Julie Andrews, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of The Healthy Epicurean. And surprisingly, intake of dairy fat like the kind found in cheese was actually associated with a slightly decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a meta-analysis of 18 studies published in September 2021 in the journal PLoS Medicine.Īnd what of the macaroni? Well, trading any refined white pasta for whole-grain varieties will net you more fiber, and there are plenty of alternative noodles on the market now as well. Cheese was the food most strongly associated with a reduced risk of age-related cognitive problems, according to a study published in November 2020 in t he Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, with people who ate cheese daily scoring highest on intelligence tests over time. And some research has found that eating cheese may be associated with other benefits. While cheese gets a bad rap for its saturated fat and can be high in sodium, most cheeses are good sources of protein and calcium, reports the Harvard T.H. The ultimate carb-laden comfort food, mac and cheese has always been a guilty pleasure - but it turns out, you can hold the guilt. Ages 5 and under are free.When you crave a warm, comforting meal after a tough day or because you’re suffering from the winter blues, few things hit the spot more than digging into a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Tickets are $59.75 for adults, $55.75 for seniors 55 and up, $35.75 for kids ages 6 to 17. Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises is also offering 90-minute mac and cheese dinner cruises on Jan. All participating restaurants will need to complete the temporary health permit by Jan. Restaurants will receive a reimbursement based on number of attendees. Local chefs can register to participate with a signature mac and cheese dish at /mac. Door prices are subject to change if tickets are not sold out prior to the event date. Package prices are for online purchase only. Tickets can be purchased at /mac and are available while supplies last. Those who purchase the Mac Daddy also check in at The Resort and bypass lines. Participants can also purchase a Mac Daddy package, which includes overnight accommodations at The Coeur d’Alene Resort and two mac and beer packages.
The Mac and Beer package for 21 and over includes six mac and cheese tasters and eight beer tasters as well as a commemorative pint glass for $35. The Mac Pack includes six tasters for $25.
Packages include a Kiddie Mac for kids 12 and under which includes three tasters for $12. Participants get to vote for their favorite dish to help award the Golden Noodle. In past years, Boyd said they usually have 1,500 to 2,000 participants and about 15 participating chefs. “It really is a very community-oriented thing because we have local chefs producing local dishes and for the community to go out and enjoy,” Boyd said. and 1 p.m., and dinner session check-in is from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants check in at the Plaza Shops on Sherman Avenue to receive their passports, then make their way through downtown, stopping for cheesy bites at each participating location.Ĭheck-in for the lunch session runs between 11 a.m. “I love that this event is not only a fun community event for people of all ages, but it's really fun to see our local chefs get creative and see what they come up with,” said Emily Boyd, the association's executive director. 15, presented by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association. Downtown Coeur d’Alene will be hopping with lip-smacking mac and cheese lovers for the fifth annual Mac and Cheese Festival on Jan.