When it’s cold, all I want to do is eat warm things. Usually soup. But sometimes I really want cheesy pasta (a.k.a. mac & cheese) and bread. It’s comfort food.
I think that because I had so much boxed mac & cheese in my younger years, my body decided I should figure somethin’ else out for the rest of my life. It was a sad day when I began to accept this. But alas, our bodies are smart, even if they’re a little curt, and we should listen to ’em.
So, here I am, on a cold winter’s night with an impending BLIZZARD approaching and all I want is Mac & Cheese. What’s a girl to do? Make a healthy substitute of course!
This is my favorite thing to do now. I love getting creative in the kitchen and finding healthy ways to make the “unhealthy” foods I crave. I think about what I’m craving and try to create, or find a recipe online, a healthy version of that craving. I urge you to try this too! It’s a simple, easy change to implement that will help you deconstruct your cravings and eat something that not only pleases you, but nourishes you. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be flavorless and boring. You have to get creative sometimes!
If you’re craving ice cream- have yogurt, or blend up some fruit for a smoothie bowl and top it with some nuts and peanut butter! Want chicken nuggets and french fries? Make your own nuggets coated with almond meal and slice up some potatoes and bake them yourself! And on, and on, and on…
So, I present you with my guilt free Mac & Cheese recipe. If you try it, let me know what you think. I’ve been messing with the “cheese” recipe for a while now and I’d love to know how other people find it.
Stay warm and be well friends!
Guilt-Free Mac & Cheese
Gluten Free, Vegan and delicious
Ingredients:
- 12 oz Gluten-Free Pasta
- 1/2 head cauliflower, steamed
- 1 sweet potato, boiled
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast + more to top
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Dollop of vegan cream cheese, I used Kite Hill’s Almond Milk based Chive Cream Cheese
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt + more to taste
- 1/4 head of broccoli or your green of choice
- Optional: 2 tablespoons gluten free breadcrumbs
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Steam cauliflower and sweet potato. Once done, drain most of the water but leave just a little bitto make blending easier. Add olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt & pepper, lemon juice and cream cheese and blend in a blender until completely smooth. This should come out looking like Velveeta. Separately, cook the pasta according to package directions. Once pasta is done, use a baking dish to combine the “cheese”, pasta and broccoli and mix so it’s even. Top with extra nutritional yeast, salt & pepper, more spices or gluten free breadcrumbs and put in oven for 15 minutes.
Enjoy!
Health in Bloom 