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Fight the Holiday Sweet Tooth

Posted Thu, Dec 07, 2006, 5:11 pm PST
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For many families, the holiday season brings special gifts and guests into their homes -- along with a multitude of sweets. This means cookies, candies, cakes, and pies, all resting comfortably on kitchen counters and dining tables or inside refrigerators just waiting to be lovingly appreciated. Unfortunately, as many parents know, children are especially drawn toward sweets if they are in sight.

One way to combat the constant temptation of making meals out of holiday sweets is to encourage a regular meal schedule, even during an unusually busy holiday schedule. If you can't or choose not to hide all of the sweet treats in your home, tempt family members with meals that you know they enjoy or find a new recipe to entice them. Macaroni and Cheese is a classic dish and always a guaranteed hit with kids. Surprise them by turning this favorite into a soup. It's an easy and satisfying winter meal for the whole family! I like to serve it with a hearty loaf of bread and a simple green salad.

Macaroni and Cheese Soup

from Kitchen Life: Real Food for Real Families--Even Yours! (Hyperion)

 

1 cup elbow macaroni

2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

One 14.5-ounce can tomatoes with onions and green peppers, drained

½ pound pasteurized process cheese product, such as Velveeta, cubed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Hot red pepper sauce to taste

½ cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese for serving (optional)

 

Bring a medium saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook until tender, about 9 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, bring the broth and tomatoes to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Gradually whisk in the cheese product until melted. Stir in the macaroni and heat through. Season the soup with salt and pepper and then the hot sauce.

Serve hot, topping each serving with cheddar cheese, if desired.

Makes 4 generous servings

Average (164 Ratings): 2 out of 5 stars

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  • 1. Posted by missmelanie724 on Thu, Dec 14, 2006, 11:20 am PST

    I hardly think 1/2 pound of Velveeta or any pasteurized cheese if a good substitute for sweets. It's like replacing junk food with junk food. At least the homemade cookies, pies, etc. don't have artificial flavors, preservatives, etc. like the bright orange cheeses you suggest. Come on... you can come up with something better than that.

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  • 2. Posted by K A on Thu, Dec 14, 2006, 11:35 am PST

    Bah Hum Bug to you too Missmelanie724. I think the point was to keep meal time a priority and to "spice things up" during the holidays. A little variety never hurt anyone.

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  • 3. Posted by Dan and Lesley on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 11:10 am PST

    Eating a meal high in carbs and fats is not really a good way to combat a sweet tooth. Once your blood sugar comes down after eating a bowl of macaroni, you're even more likely to raid the cookie jar. A meal with lean protein and vegetables is a better way to stave off cravings. . .and balance the calories if you do later choose to have a cookie.

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  • 4. Posted by cocoa.girl on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 11:41 am PST

    Why don't we all just eat junk food until Jan 1st and try to gain as many pounds as possible so that during the new year we'll have more to loose.........thus resulting in a bigger weight loss! Hurray for that 10 lbs!

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  • 5. Posted by happy camper on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 11:44 am PST

    Sorry ,but I prefer to feed my family REAL food. Velveta, or any other overly proccessed ick will not be in my home. How utterly gross!!!!!!!! First of all: I have never, ever considered Velveta an edible item, second-I tried to keep an open mind and try it...I wouldn't feed that to rhodents...much less a dog, definately not to anyone human!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to spit it out onto my napkin. Did someone actually eat this and lke it? Oh well, some people eat boogers too!

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  • 6. Posted by hopespreads on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 11:48 am PST

    This article is ridiculous! with a headline like that, I thought there would be some useful tips. Loose vs. lose - they are different!

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  • 7. Posted by chad a on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 12:02 pm PST

    People are too overdramatic. We're taking about mac n' cheese here, it's not the end of the world. If you don't like it then don't eat it. Besides he's talking about kids, what you find disgusting might not be disgusting to kids.

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  • 8. Posted by jdoodads on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:15 pm PST

    This is insane!! What do you want? A coronary infarction my good man! Good heavens.!

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  • 9. Posted by Darrell B on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:16 pm PST

    You people are nuts. Velveta might is an iffy cheese but it tastes so good.

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  • 10. Posted by Marina on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:17 pm PST

    This article is atrocious. Such bad advice. I agree with jjaxv.

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  • 11. Posted by marla h on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:17 pm PST

    MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 12. Posted by marla h on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:17 pm PST

    MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 13. Posted by crunkcrooklyndodger on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:19 pm PST

    looks like Art Smith needs to stay out the kitchen and the cookie jar during the holidays. this article sucks and is truly a misinformed bit of information. for all those who are railing against those of us who posted about intelligent nutrition choices: How many of ya are overweight, have a high carb diet, have high pressure/diabetes or heart disease- probably call McDonald's a good meal and ice berg lettuce a salad-I'd be curious to know...Wake Up Middle America!!!!

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  • 14. Posted by toughbuffkitty on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:20 pm PST

    I think this is a good way to make something that actually has fat in it and is surprisingly healthy. I mean come on, who wants to eat fat free Jello! Yuck! I mean come on, it's the holidays!

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  • 15. Posted by on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:20 pm PST

    How about you eat whatever you want during the holiday and just balance it out with some exercise. I more concerned about the suggestion from one reader that we feed our kids sugar-free jello and splenda cookies. That is what has gotten us so fat to begin with. Eat what you crave, crave what you eat....whatever. Just turn off the tv and get some exercise and the world will be a much healthier place.

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  • 16. Posted by sydnee_hampton on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:20 pm PST

    It was verey good and my faimly loved it so much

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  • 17. Posted by toughbuffkitty on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:20 pm PST

    I think this is a good way to make something that actually has fat in it and is surprisingly healthy. I mean come on, who wants to eat fat free Jello! Yuck! I mean come on, it's the holidays!

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  • 18. Posted by monster_dance on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:21 pm PST

    That's just gross. I'm vegan, which makes a whole lot of people pissed at me, but mac and cheese is not considered to be a food to me. I don't think even kids would eat this crap.

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  • 19. Posted by Lauren G on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:21 pm PST

    Sounds gross.... I wish I could find real help about sweet tooth, I have a real big one :)

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  • 20. Posted by dandinmail on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:21 pm PST

    What a wonderfull medium the internet is. In a magazine this article would go unchecked however here on the net some of the comments are more intelligent than the article. Soon journalists are going to have a hard time competing with specialists who blog for passion and not profit. Maybe you should try laying off the 'generous servings' Art, your photo betrays you.

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  • 21. Posted by Eric MD on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:21 pm PST

    I agree with missmelanie724..... what do you work for Kraft or something..... I would have suggested a veggie tray...... if all else fails the good ole story about "Hansel and Gretel" always worked for me : p

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  • 22. Posted by on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:21 pm PST

    Totally INSANE! Fight the sweet tooth yet it makes absolutely NO SENSE loading up on all that killer cheese! TOTALLY RETARDED!

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  • 23. Posted by on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:23 pm PST

    What a misleading headline and disappointing article. I was hoping for genuine tips and instead got a recipe I would never make because of its dubious healthiness. Why is nutritional information not included with the recipe?

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  • 24. Posted by sblbdc on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:23 pm PST

    bah-humbug miss melanie and jjaxv... the holidays are not about nutrition.. you nutritionists... it's about enjoying your boring life! Mange-mange....eat... if the public doesn't know by now what is good for them and what isn't ... they should really worry about more important things, like developing some common sense... all this author is trying to add is a little hearty-ness.. and something more substantial than cookies. Bah-humbug...

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  • 25. Posted by shelly on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:25 pm PST

    If you dont like what he said then dont bother with it, but for you to bash him for simply making a sugesstion, shame on all of you! Jeesh.. great Holday sprit!

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  • 26. Posted by mds112358 on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:25 pm PST

    They still make Velvetta Cheese?? Last time I had Velvetta Cheese I used it as bait while trout fishing . Hmmm... I guess it does have a culinary purpose. Holiday macaroni and cheese. I wonder how it would taste with those green and red holiday sprinkles?

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  • 27. Posted by Cali Mom on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:25 pm PST

    Well folks, I'm sorry to jump on the bandwagon but there's no way I'm serving processed cheese food in place of sweets. I understand the point to stay away from sweets but my cookies have eggs, butter, flour, etc. all of which are natural. One natural cookie as opposed to a whole meal of artificial cheese? No contest.

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  • 28. Posted by dwalt70939 on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:25 pm PST

    Message to i_stole_a_libs_playstation_3 Why in the world to you have to bring politics into this discussion? Besides that, liberals are NOT the only people in the world who like to eat healthy. And besides that fact... I am a liberal and I love velveeta. So stick that in your hat!!! :-)

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  • 29. Posted by Dawn e on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:26 pm PST

    I find this article to be a bit silly also. I too was expecting, some ways to stave off a sugar craving by having a different heathier treat. In addition if I made homemade Mac and Cheese I would surely use real cheddar cheese not Velveta.

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  • 30. Posted by calaraz on Fri, Dec 15, 2006, 2:27 pm PST

    Another big no-no here as to the Velvetta, that is certainly not, in any way a healthy nutritional alternative. Additionally, in reply to jjax2........the nutritionist ??....jello and cool whip are in the same category as Velvetta.....any "food" product containing sugar free alternatives should never be ingested.

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