Healthy Macaroni and Cheese recipe created specifically for health improvement purposes
American Heart Association: Smart Food Substitutions
About fat-free dairy products - The Mayo Clinic
CBS News: Health Watch Videos - Healthy Choices
Links to full-text articles on the hM NewsWire are at the bottom of this page
The heartMonitron Journals - Published for Educational Purposes, only your Doctor can provide advice
Heart-Healthy, Diabetic-Friendly and ideal for weight loss seekers . Quick and easy to make.
a different and healthy version of the old Mac 'N' Cheese recipe
Macaroni 'n' Cheese w/ Tuna - Delicious!
How to make a healthy Mac and cheese? An example. In this CookingLight video,
Tim Cebula demonstrates how to skip butter and introduces lighter ingredients.
a Healthy Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol and Low-Calorie Recipe
hM NewsWire Also Read
Evaluate for yourself the nutritional information below and determine which variation is best for you...
Choose between three delicious, different and healthy versions of the classic Macaroni 'n' Cheese ...with tuna and vegetables
Your Macaroni 'n' Cheese can be delicious, healthy and low in fat or cholesterol at the same time.
Time to compare and weigh the benefits of using healthier ingredients!
Ingredients List
Heart Healthy Recipe
Version
Diabetic Friendly Recipe
Version
Weight Loss, Control and Ideal Weight Maintenance Version of Recipe
1 -) 1 Whole, medium-size onion, chopped
1b -) or 4 green onions, finely chopped, including part of the stem
10 -) 2 tablespoons Carnation, fat-free dry milk powder, diluted in 1 cup of water.
11 -) 1/2 tsp Parsley flakes.
12 -) 1 can Campbell's 98% fat-free and reduced sodium condensed mushroom soup.
13 -) 3 cups uncooked whole-wheat or whole-grain macaroni elbows
14 -) 1/3 tsp psyllium (Metamucil) or FiberSure
1 -) 1/2 Whole, medium-size onion, chopped
and 4 green onions, finely chopped, including part of the stem
2 -) 2/3 cup spinach, chopped
3 -) 1 Cup Broccoli chopped
4 -) 1/2 Cup Mushrooms, sliced
5 -) 1 cup fat-free grated mozzarella cheese (Kraft Polly-o)
or 4 Slices, Fat-Free Kraft Swiss cheese
6 -) 1 Can Albacore (white) tuna / or boneless salmon
7 -) 1/3 Tsp Oil blend 50% olive, 50% canola (spray)
8 -) 1/4 Tsp Ground pepper
9 -) 1/2 Clove Garlic, Crushed (or garlic flakes)
10 -) 2 tablespoons Carnation, fat-free dry milk powder, diluted in 1 cup of water.
11 -) 1/2 tsp Parsley flakes.
12 -) 1 can Campbell's 98% fat-free and reduced sodium condensed mushroom soup.
13 -) 2 cups uncooked whole-wheat or whole-grain macaroni elbows
14 -) 1/3 tsp psyllium (Metamucil) or FiberSure
/ Recipe Serves 4 persons
/ Recipe Serves 4 persons
/ Recipe Serves 4 persons
Note: Only your doctor or dietitian can provide advice. The hM JOURNALS contain articles, news and recipes relative to Health Care and Improvement, Nutrition, the Management of Coronary Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, High Cholesterol, weight loss and the Maintenance of a Healthy Weight, including Computer Assisted Diet Planning and Nutrition Analysis - hM strongly recommends using the information in the articles and healthy recipes provided on this website under the professional supervision of your doctor or registered dietitian . Whether you are seeking to improve your general health, reverse heart disease, control diabetes or your weight, always assume that getting professional advice from your MD or RD is best. NGBeditor
Making your
Mac 'n' Cheese
Tasty and Delicious
1- How to Extract the Flavor. (Rapid oil infusion)
There are substances (like tasty molecules) that dissolve better in oil and others that dissolve better in water. The same is true for the aromatic molecules that are responsible for the flavor of a dish. This knowledge can do wonders as to how the dishes you cook will taste. Let's start by infusing the small amount of oil we are going to use with the flavor of the spices.
First, using an oil sprayer, spray a fine mist of oil at the bottom of the pan, baking tray or microwave-proof vessel. Sprinkle with half the crushed garlic, spices and herbs. Spray again with a fine mist of oil. If not using a sprayer, pour a very small quantity of oil in the pot and sprinkle half of the spices and herbs in the oil. Let stand for ten minutes so the herbs are impregnated with oil.
Add the chopped onions, chopped spinach, chopped broccoli and sliced mushrooms on top. Spray again with a fine mist of oil. Stir thoroughly and heat at low intensity until the veggies are half cooked. You will notice that this starts to smell real good ...so will the other members of your household. Set the vegetables aside.
2- Mixing the cheesy sauce.
In a separate bowl or pan, mix 2/3 cup of water and the cream of mushroom (if using a low-sodium can of tuna packed in water, you may use the tasty water in the can). If making the diabetic-friendly or weight loss recipe, add the small quantity of Metamucil or FiberSure. Add the second half of the spices and herbs now. Mix thoroughly and heat gently. Add the vegetables you had set aside and the fish, stir. While heating the sauce gently, add the fat-free and cholesterol-free cheese and stir.
3- Adding the pasta or macaroni elbows.
Add the cooked whole-wheat macaroni to your delicious cheesy sauce and stir until the elbows are all well coated with the sauce. You may want to serve it now or top it with some crumbs extra fat-free cheese and bake it a while.
4- How to add a volume of fiber (Weight Loss and Weight Control Versions).
In the weight loss and control version, a volume of vegetables (spinach) with a high content of dietary fiber is substituted to a volume of pasta. The reasons are explained in the health notes on the right. The quantity of cheese was also reduced.
5- Serving
Quantities will vary according to your size, gender and daily energy requirements. Type 1 and 2 diabetic patients must adjust the quantity of pasta used according to their own metabolic ability to process carbohydrate over time.
Serve with a good Mediterranean salad, some garlic bread and maybe a bit of chilled white wine.
This healthy Macaroni and Cheese recipe was created specifically for health improvement purposes, namely: the prevention of coronary heart disease, better control of blood glucose (sugar) for type 2 and 1 diabetics, to lower serum cholesterol levels and for the loss of weight or its maintenance. Consequently, this recipe does not list any butter and includes whole-grain pasta, healthy n-3 and n-6 fatty acid-rich fish and vegetables high in fiber content.
Enjoy this Delicious and Healthy Macaroni and Cheese!
If you decide to change your dietary habits,
make sure pleasure is one of the first ingredients that will be the backbone of your new diet. We live only once. Why not make every wholesome or healthy meal a pleasurable and wholesome feast?
Preparation
Why these Ingredients?
Why these Amounts?
1- Why wholewheat or whole-grain macaroni elbows?
A quick comparison of the nutritional content of wholewheat macaroni with the values of refined-flour macaroni shows that wholewheat pasta has roughly three times more protein and fiber. It also has more of the beneficial phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than the impoverished refined version. Although it is a better source of carbohydrate for heart patients, diabetics and weight loss seekers, do not increase its overall proportion in the servings.
2- Why skip butter and use such small amounts of oil?
Even though it is a natural product, butter would be contraindicated for people with angina or people who have suffered a heart attack. Butter is very high in dietary cholesterol and saturated fat ... a no-no for a heart-healthy diet. The diets that are documented as reversing heart disease and causing coronary plaque to regress are very-low fat, at 10 to 15% of calories coming from fat.
3- Why Albacore tuna (white) instead of regular light tuna?
White tuna has 2 to 3 times more of the beneficial fish oils (omega3) than regular light or red tuna.
4- Why add spinach, or fiber-rich vegetables and FiberSure or Metamucil to the mix?
Spinach, besides containing healthy nutritional elements, has also high fiber content. It is used in this weight loss recipe to reduce the volume of macaroni and the portion of cheese and thus reduce the total number of calories. This will also procure a feeling of satiety and will keep you from getting hungry. Whether a diabetic or a weight watcher, spinach is indeed "good for you". A small quantity of psyllium husk will increase the fibre content of the recipe and will be beneficial to diabetics. It will also make you feel full longer, something weight loss seekers will appreciate in a recipe. Note that phylum (Metamucil) also helps lower cholesterol slightly.
5- Why fat-free cheese instead of regular cheese?
Cheese normally has a very high saturated fat and cholesterol content. ...Not ideal for heart and diabetic patients or weight conscious people. In this mac 'n' cheese recipe, the fat-free cheese is a perfect substitute. Use in moderation, given the high sodium content. People who have an intolerance to lactose and dairy products, strict vegetarians or vegans may want to use soy-based cheese products.
The explanations given below are based on medical and scientific facts published in medical journals and by health associations. For the benefit of our readers, the links to the relevant medical, scientific and governmental documents are provided at the bottom of this page.
Health Notes
Recommended readings and best sources of healthy recipes.
1- Losing Weight for Good, By Lawrence J. Cheskin MD - Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center
2- The Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide and Cookbook - The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center With tips as to how to make heart-healthy recipes.
3- Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy Authors: Warshaw and The American Diabetes Association
4- Cooking for Diabetes Software Contains 1,000 recipes. Author: The American Diabetes Association (Cook'n Main Software Required). Comes with advice as to how to make diabetic-friendly recipes.
5- Cooking Low Fat Low Cholesterol, Betty Crocker Health Series - Cook'n Software Program Complement.
6- Cooking Healthy & Hearty , Betty Crocker Health Series, Recipe Software Program Complement. Recipes for heart patients written by dietitians and specialists.
7- About pasta and weight watching: see "All-Out Pasta" recipes on WeightWatchers .com
This recipe is NOT your traditional Mac & Cheese recipe, like the one you would find at "Joe's Diner".This recipe was creayed for patients who mus modify their diet after heart attack, who have been diagnosed with angina, atherosclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes or are dieting in order to lose weight. This is a modified recipe designed to provide a high quality nutritional intake. We have tried to base it on, or be inspired by, the nutritional principles advocated by either the AHA (American Heart Association), the ADA (American Diabetes Association) or the Harvard Medical School's Guide to Lowering your Cholesterol. It aims to achieve an overall low fat content and a very low saturated and trans-fat content. It aims to use unrefined and complex sources of carbohydrates and include plenty of fiber-rich, non starchy vegetables. For weight loss seekers, according to the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, making a casserole that contains lots of vegetables will prolong the feeling of satiety by causing the food to remain in the stomach longer. No butter is used to make the equivalent of a roux. Three versions are presented, one for heart disease care, one for diabetes care and one for healthy weight loss and maintenance. You are encouraged to talk with your Doctor (MD) or Registered Dietitian (RD) regarding your own nutritional goals. About some of the ingredients: Whole Wheat or Whole Grain Pasta: Provides 3 to 4 times the amount of vitamins, minerals and beneficial phytonutrients that pasta made with refined flour can provide. It also has more fiber. Canola and Olive Oil: The mix is very low in saturated fat and provides a desirable ratio of omega 3 and 6. Use very little. White Tuna (also called Albacore): Provides close to three times the amount of beneficial fatty acids when compared to red (or other) tuna. Garbanzo Beans: All legumes contain lean protein (amino acids), fiber and complex carbohydrate. They are cholesterol-free. Campbell's Cream of Mushroom: Try to choose the 98% fat-free version. Fat-free Cheese: a word of caution. While it is fat-free and cholesterol-free, it has lot of salt in it. Use in moderation. Heart Health, Cardiac Care Diets / Health Notes: When it comes to making a recipe for the purpose of heart disease care or coronary heart disease reversal, you may want to lower the total fat content and keep the saturated and trans-fat content to an absolute minimum. This is to prevent or decrease the synthesis of the bad LDL-Cholesterol by the liver. People who strictly follow Dr Caldwell B Esselstyn's, Dr Dean Ornish's or Dr Lance K Gould's diet (to reverse heart disease) may want to skip the use of any oil and may want to replace the fish by the chickpeas. They may also want to use a plant-based (soy or rice-based type of cheese-like product). The same goes for vegan and strict vegetarian recipes. The featured recipe uses fat-free (milk-based) cheese and resorts to an oil sprayer (a canola and extra-virgin olive oil mix, the best in hM's opinion) to keep the fat content low. We have used Albacore (white) tuna for protein: Albacore tuna is richer in the good n-3 an n-6 (omega) polyunsaturated fatty acids. We have used Campbell's "reduced-in-fat" (98% fat-free) cream of chicken and fat-free cheese to replace the traditional roux that would have been made with cholesterol-rich butter and saturated fat-laden cheese. Diabetes Care Diets / Health Notes: In the diabetes care and prevention version, we aim to make a recipe that has a much lower overall glycemic index and glycemic load than the average Mac & Cheese or macaroni casserole. In order to slow down the absorption of glucose, only whole-wheat or whole grain pasta is used. Coupled with the legumes (garbanzo beans / chickpeas) the inclusion of non-starchy and fiber-rich vegetables should help to reduce blood sugar peaks. The use of a small quantity of psyllium (Metamucil TM) or Fibersure TM, is of course, optional. This type of fiber is reported to lower postprandial (after meals) glucose peaks. Weight Loss and Management Diets / Notes: The heart healthy recipe version was used as a template. The ingredients list is the same with a few variations. The differences are pointed out in the next table. The carbohydrate content was decreased a little by reducing the amount of macaroni. The oil content was kept very low. Reducing the overall fat content below the 20 to 22% level, will favor weight loss. In order to procure a feeling of satiety, the amount of vegetables has been maximized. Vegetables will restore volume, increase the fiber content, provide a feeling of satiety and slow down the absorption of carbohydrate. This seeks to keep you from being hungry despite the restriction in calories. - Any suitable vegetable would do ( NOT a potato ! ) as long as it is low in carbohydrate and high in fiber. Only the calories are restricted, not the nutritional quality.
hM strongly recommends using the information contained in the articles or the healthy recipes provided on this website under the professional supervision of your doctor, registered dietitian or nutrition professional. Whether you are seeking to improve your general health, reverse heart disease, control diabetes or control your weight, always assume that getting some professional advice from your MD or RD is best. Registered Dietitians have studied the science of nutrition in a recognized college or university. They specialize in health care matters. Dietitians are the best qualified professionals to help you plan a balanced diet and suggest recipes or good cooking methods suitable to improve your health condition.
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