Banza is releasing a delicious, healthy, high-protein mac and cheese

Bowls of florescent orange macaroni and cheese are what childhood dreams are made of, am I right? It’s amazing just how much happiness a blue box of macaroni, milk, and powdered cheese can bring. While there are some foods your outgrow (RIP my love for Kid Cuisine and Dunk-a-roos), admit it, even grown-up you loves a creamy bowl of healthy mac and cheese.

I’m not above making a bowl of the classic Kraft every now and then, but, while delicious, boxed mac and cheese has always been pretty nutrient void. Just one cup of the classic (a serving size no one under the age of seven could stick to, really) has 47 grams of carbs, 720 milligrams of sodium (you want to keep it below 2,300 milligrams for the day), and only two grams of fiber. To be fair, it does have 9 grams of protein.

Well, there is now a healthier boxed mac and cheese at grocery stores near you. On January 1, 2020, Banza is releasing their take on a classic, made with chickpea pasta and vegan “cheese” made from roasted sweet potatoes, which makes it a legit healthy food. (In case you haven’t heard, chickpeas are going to be *everywhere* in 2020.) A one cup serving has 18 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. (The carbs clock in at 36 grams per serving.) As a whole, the meal is a heck of a lot healthier than what your babysitter served up. (No disrespect, the original is still yummy.)

While the brand already has a mac-and-cheese option with powdered cheese on the market, this is the first time they’re coming out with a 100 percent vegan option, with both the noodles and “cheese” being plant-based.

The fact that mac and cheese has been reinvented as a high-protein dinner is pretty fantastic. Now, that dilemma of deciding between eating healthy and giving into your comfort food craving is a relic of the past.

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Check out all of Well+Good’s 2020 Wellness Trends here. Plus, 35 comfort food recipes that are healthy and delicious.