Macaroni and Cheese
What You Should Know
You'd find this macaroni and cheese in Whole Foods' prepared foods or refrigerated meal section, an easy grab for a quick family dinner or cozy night in. The vibe is nostalgic and indulgent — creamy, cheesy comfort food — but the ingredient list mixes culinary staples (pasta, milk, cheeses, butter, cream) with texture and color additives (xanthan gum, guar gum, cornstarch, annatto) that signal extra processing. Those additives help maintain consistent texture and appearance across batches and shelf life, indicating more processing than a homemade version but not a heavily industrial formulation.
Nutrition Facts
Ingredients
Macaroni, &, Cheese, (elbow, macaroni, [enriched, unbleached, durum, wheat, semolina,, egg, whites,, niacin,, ferrous, sulfate,, thiamine, mononitrate,, riboflavin,, folic, acid],, milk, [pasteurized, milk,, vitamin, d3],, water,, cheddar, cheese, [pasteurized, milk,, cheese, cultures,, salt,, enzymes],, white, cheddar, cheese, [pasteurized, milk,, cheese, cultures,, salt,, enzymes],, heavy, cream,, butter, [cream,, salt],, unbleached, wheat, flour,, sea, salt,, cornstarch,, stabilizers, [xanthan, gum,, guar, gum],, white, pepper,, annatto, extract, [canola, oil,, annatto, (color)])..
Flagged Ingredients:
- •canola oil - Seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids
- •annatto - Artificial coloring
Dietary Labels
Ultra-Processing Assessment
Processed Food
Why this score?
Most ingredients are recognizable whole or culinary ingredients (pasta, dairy, butter), placing it in NOVA 3 (processed foods), though added stabilizers and colorants show it has undergone industrial processing beyond a homemade dish rather than the extensive reformulation typical of NOVA 4 ultra-processed foods.
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Common Questions about Macaroni and Cheese
The Mac and Cheese is a comforting meal that can definitely fit into a balanced diet, but calling it 'healthy' really depends on your personal dietary goals. With 240 calories and 10 grams of protein per serving, it’s a satisfying option, but it's also higher in saturated fat and sodium. So, if you're watching those numbers, enjoy it in moderation!