Good Morning my friends! Today I am teaming up with my sweet friend Laura from Louella Reese Blog for a blogger link up. Make sure you stop by her blog to see how she styled her favorite Thanksgiving look and to check out the other bloggers involved. I’m going to be sharing a healthy side for you to make on Thanksgiving. The original recipe I saw for this mac and cheese is from Eating Well Magazine but I changed a few things to make it extra awesome! With so much food being served- why not add a little clean eating dish to your feast? And I promise you won’t be sacrificing taste with it. This delicious Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese won’t disappoint my friends!
This recipe is considered “Clean Eating.” What exactly is clean eating? The simple definition is eliminating processed foods and chemicals from your daily diet. Easier said than done right? This method of eating isn’t necessary geared for weight loss but rather for getting your body to a healthier state. If you incorporate daily exercise than losing weight will come with it. Here’s a few tips to begin clean eating:
1. Eat Lots Of Plants
2. Include meats
3. Eat Grains
4. Read Labels
5. Eat Fewer Ingredients
Some packaged foods- like some baked vegetables and yogurt- are considered clean. If you want to slowly merge into clean eating and buy healthy processed food, read the ingredient lists. If you do not recognize most of the weird names on the food label, put it back. Healthy processed food should have very few ingredients. Various websites are available to help get you started and give you plenty of recipe ideas (try the Gracious Pantry). In the meantime try my version of the Sweet Potato Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
Sweet Potato Macaroni & Cheese
“Fiber-rich sweet potato is used as the base for the cheese sauce in this healthy homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. The bright orange color tricks your eyes into thinking this healthy macaroni and cheese recipe is loaded with cheese, but there’s actually only about half as much cheese as compared to a traditional recipe.”
-Eating Well Magazine
INGREDIENTS
- 8 ounces whole-wheat elbow noodles OR Gluten Free Noodles (2 cups)
- 1 medium sweet potato (about 12 ounces)
- 2 cups nonfat milk
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 2 tablespoons Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
PREPARATION
- Position a rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler. Coat a 2-quart broiler-safe baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain; set aside.
- Meanwhile, prick sweet potato with a fork in several places. Microwave on High until tender all the way to the center, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Whisk milk, flour and garlic in a large saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking frequently, until steaming and hot, but not boiling. Remove from heat.
- As soon as the sweet potato is cool enough to handle, cut open and scoop the flesh into the steaming milk. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth.
- Add cheese, mustard, salt and pepper and stir until the cheese melts. Add the pasta and peas to the sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Combine breadcrumbs and oil and sprinkle on the pasta. Add cheese on top (optional). Broil on the upper rack until the top is lightly browned and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes.
Nutrition
Per serving: 479 calories; 14 g fat ( 8 g sat , 4 g mono ); 40 mg cholesterol; 68 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 24 g protein; 10 g fiber; 511 mg sodium; 628 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (218% daily value), Calcium (45% dv), Magnesium (31% dv), Vitamin C & Zinc (22% dv), Iron & Potassium (18% dv), Folate (16% dv), B12 (15% dv)
*Nutritional Facts and original recipe found at: Eatingwell.com
Hope you enjoy!
Xoxo,
I love this recipe! It sounds so delicious, and I love that you made a classic dish healthy. I’m going to try making this. I think it would be a great recipe for any time of the year.
Ellen | A Pop of Pink
Thanks Ellen! It’s such a great recipe because you’re getting your sweet potato and Mac n cheese fix all in one! 🙂 Xoxo
Wow this looks amazing! My mom already makes a mac-n-cheese for Thanksgiving, but I’ll definitely be trying this out for dinner some time. YUM!
Thanks Mary! It’s such a great recipe to have this time of the year! Even if you don’t use for Thanksgiving it makes a great dinner party side! Definitely a crowd pleaser! Xoxo
Yum yum! This looks good, definitely would have to tell my boyfriend it was just a really orange cheddar cheese since he isn’t too fond of sweet potatoes 😉 but what he doesn’t know can’t hurt him, right?
Thanks for linking up with us!
XO Corbin Tate
Classy South Blog
Thanks Corbin! Haha that’s funny you say that- my hubby actually hates sweet potato but I tricked him into trying this “Mac n cheese” 🙂 Hope your bf likes it! Xoxo
Oh my! I’m absolutely drooling over here! I cannot wait to try this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing.
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Thanks beautiful Blair! Hope you enjoy it! Xoxo
Luisa this looks/sounds absolutely delicious! I looooove sweet potatoes and let’s be honest who doesn’t love mac and cheese?! I will definitely be giving this a try soon – thank you sooo much for sharing and joining in on our link up 🙂 so appreciate it love
xo Laura Leigh
http://louellareese.blogspot.com/