21. I HAVE A 13 YEARS OLD SON AND HE HAS TO EAT MAC AND CHEESE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, AND HE ALSO PREFER THE KRAFT MAC AND CHEESE. I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE MY OWN VERSION, BUT HE DOESN'T LIKE IT.

Posted at 3:46PM on Mar 8th 2006 by MAGDA

22. There is nothing like the good old fashion mac and cheese like my mom makes. But If i could only get the recipe.
she won't give it to me.. the closet that i can find to it.. is Hannorford markets band. Where do u get that Annies.. cause my mothers name is Annie..

Posted at 3:48PM on Mar 8th 2006 by MaryAnne George

23. I grew up with the blue box mac & cheese, and pasta in any form is fattening! However, having said that, remember everything in moderation. Mac & cheese once a week or once every two weeks is OK. Just remember, the more milk you add, the creamier your mac & cheese. Add pieces of hot dog to your mac or pieces of protein dog (available in the health food section) and vegetables as a side makes a great dinner!

Posted at 3:52PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Lisa

24. I like to make my own using cooked macaroni and kraft american cheese slices with a little butter....layer the three ending with butter and cook at 350 for 45 minutes....it puts all of the others to shame...I am, however a big fan of the "blue box"!!!

Posted at 3:52PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Suzie

25.
STOFFERS, ENOUGH SAID!

Posted at 4:05PM on Mar 8th 2006 by judy cecil

26. I like the home made mac and valveeta cheese, mom make it every week after mixing and melting, it was then baked Boy was it good

the cheap store brand always worked for my kids you always put in more milk then stirred it until boiling, then turn off and let cool for a while.

Hot dogs are a good add in as are peas.

Posted at 4:09PM on Mar 8th 2006 by anthony vignocchi

27. I alaways had mac and cheese as a kid and to this day as a grown man. Awsome! when I'm hungry and looking for a quick fix knowing I'm also almost ready to go to bed for the night, Signed All grown up and zzzz!!!lol

Posted at 4:10PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Mac

28. This is why it's called "comfort food". Eating warm soft food and feeling the warmth go down to the tummy is what makes the food comforting. Moms have always know this unconsciously and the blue box was the 1st to come out with it. As it is passed down from mother to daughter, it is hard for manufacturers to overcome the primary brand. Now that the public is being educated on "healthy" foods, the daughters are reading the labels more. If you start children young to a certain type of food, then they will more that likely stay with it and not migrate to the blue box. My kids really like Annies, Even the eldest that had the blue box. I can tell the difference. It is a little bland because it's missing the fat but I got over it. Maybe Annies is not as healthy at grating the cheese yourself...but for us, it's the next best thing.

Posted at 4:15PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Diana Love

29. i don't really like the Kraft Mac n cheese..i think it is too cheesy for me. what is truely the best kind is Annies. its perfect and have perfect cheese flavors. i f you haven't tried it you should. you'll be impressed and its not very expensive.

Posted at 4:21PM on Mar 8th 2006 by kristin

30. I don't get it..if you have to boil the noodles anyway, why not just melt some velveeta in the microwave, add some shredded cheddar, salt and pepper and milk and bake? Isn't it a shame we look at reconstituted foods as possibly healthier than one another...you can't beat the real thing!

Posted at 4:25PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Jan

31. My mother always made Kraft and replaced the milk with a can of drained diced tomatos. When I became a mother, my elder child (now 26) had reactions to red dye, so I started to read all labels. I was put off by the amount of sodium in boxed mac and cheese, and the renet, the disgusting pigment that gives yellow cheese it's color. It comes from the lining of cow stomachs. Gross! All cheese is naturally white. Now I only buy the white chedder or american. I just began makeing my own. I have tried the Annie's white chedder and it seems pretty good. Although my kids complained about it so I just make my own which is so much better anyway.

Posted at 4:28PM on Mar 8th 2006 by cate disantis

32. I was raised on the real thing and nothing compares with it..baked mac and cheese yummy.....baked in the oven....

Posted at 4:34PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Donna

33. My mom always made the boxed Mission Mac & Cheese when I was growing up, don't know if they even make it anymore. Now my kids only like the Kraft Mac & Cheese, but it's Kraft's newer Thick & Creamy version. It's still powder, but a little better. Plus I add a little extra butter and milk, then tear up and melt 2 or 3 whole milk Kraft Singles into the mix, and add just a slight dash of garlic powder. Then it's pretty good for the blue box stuff a few times a month. The kids won't eat any other kind.

Posted at 4:40PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Mary

34. I hate boxed mac and cheese. I loved it as a kid but when I got older and had the velveeta shells and cheese version, it was box for me no more! My family, however, is a HUGE fan of the boxed variety. So to make it a little more tolerable, I throw in a slice or two of sliced american cheese. (Velveeta if I have it!) and mix that in along with the butter and milk. I never measure either one. I've gotten it down to eyeballing how much. But the cheese works! It makes the sauce creamier and it takes that powdery taste out as well!

Posted at 4:50PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Leigh

35. I agree, it's kind of what we all grew up on. But as for this confirmed baby boomer, my brother and I love the blue box Kraft--the kind with the powder and all. Yes, it isn't good for you, trans fat, saturated fat, and all, but when I make it, I can't stop eating it until it's all gone.

Posted at 4:53PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Lauren

36. My daughter used to love the Kraft stuff growing up. She eats Annie's now, but still too much is bad for you and she is insulin resistant. Anybody got some really good recipes for home made mac and cheese? If we can only have it occasionally, it should be the best. Email to me.

Posted at 5:08PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Lisa

37. The reason mac and cheese makes you sleepy is the L-tryptophane in dairy products. This is why Mama's warm milk at night works.

As for enhancing the taste of packaged mac and cheese, my trick is to toss in a tablespoon of sour cream or plain yoghurt (if you are watching the fat content). That smooths out the sauce and gives it that "mouthful" taste missing from the powdered sauces.
a pinch of cayenne makes up for the blandness.

But in fact, homemade is actually better, and not that hard or more time-consuming. If you can take the time to mix milk and margarine or butter with a mix then you can take a minute more to melt cheese, instead of using a powder. ALL the powdered cheeses are unnecessarily high in sodium.

Posted at 5:10PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Brenda

38. ADDING A COUPLE OF SLICES OF AMERICAAN OR CHEDDAR CHEESE SPIKES IT UP A BIT. I ALSO PUT IN SOME ONION THAT IS DICED UP FINELY. ONION ADDS FLAVOR TO ANYTHING.

Posted at 5:13PM on Mar 8th 2006 by BILL

39. Annies is available at WalMart and it's cheaper than in the regular grocery store. Still, the Annies is almost twice the price of the Velveeta brand which is very similar in that there is a sauce packet that you squeeze into the macaroni. I guess it depends on how much you want to spend. By the way, look at the labels - none of them are very good for you - lots of fat and calories!

Posted at 5:17PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Clem

40. Annie Organic Mac & Cheese Authur Shapes in Cheddar is wonderful. Use with a combo of cream cheese, butter, and milk and season with Johnny's Seasoning Salt. Fabulous. This is tried and tested in college homes.

Posted at 5:21PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Juli