On those nights that you feel you just don't have the time or the energy to make a great meal, boxed whole grain macaroni and cheese will speed things up and taste great.

I love mac-n-cheese just as much as the next ten year old does, but as you grow up you come to find out that it isn't so great for you...most boxed mac and cheeses are loaded with preservatives, coloring, and fake cheese! Who really wants to eat that? That is why I started using organic boxed mac and cheese from my local grocery store.

I have turned macaroni and cheese into a nutrient powerhouse boasting calcium, protein, complex carbs, and veggies full of those wonderful vitamins. Macaroni and cheese is a perfect base to create a one-pot meal.

What you will need:

*boxed organic whole wheat macaroni and cheese

* a small head of cauliflower, chopped

*sriracha

*turkey bacon

*sliced brown mushrooms

*pepper and cumin to taste

Do it:

Take a box of the cheddar and shells. Cook it according to the directions on the back(I use NF milk instead of low fat). Once the water is boiling, throw in the noodles and half a small head of chopped cauliflower.

While the pasta is cooking, cook up some turkey bacon and mushroom in a pan over medium heat. The fat from the turkey bacon will help cook the mushrooms- no oil is needed.

After draining the pasta, add the chopped bacon and mushrooms to the mix. Squirt some sriracha and mustard into the pasta. Add the milk and the cheese sauce...eat it! Serve it with a side salad and some fruit to complete the meal.

* If sriracha is too hot for you use a packet of Fire sauce from Taco Bell. It works great also.

* Another great combination is broccoli, a little bit of oyster sauce and chopped almonds.

Learn more about this author, Summer Stewart.
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