Time for some mac and cheese

It's Review It Wednesday! Today, I'm reviewing something I pulled out of my cupboard last night. This is something I bought at the grocery store, so it's not a product anyone sent to me to try. It's just something I wanted to tell you about.

Get this sticker free from Annie's

As a former fan of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (note I said 'former'), I was really happy to find an organic alternative.

Annie's Homegrown Macaroni and Cheese is made with organic pasta and 100% read cheese, not the processed crap found in other boxes of mac and cheese.

• Good source of calcium
• Good source of protein
• Good Source of Vitamin B1
• Good Source of Folic Acid
• 0g Trans Fat
• Vegetarian
• Yeast Free

There is nothing artificial in this 6 oz. box of yummy-ness! And speaking of the box, it is made of 100% recycled paperboard with minimum 35% post-consumer content. Annie's Homegrown truly cares about the planet. In 1989, they started the BE GREEN, Help the Earth Live campaign. Here's what they say about the campaign on the side of the mac and cheese box:

"It's not about any particular organization or corporation or trying to get anyone elected. BE GREEN simply lets people know that you're an Earth Advocate, and that you care about what happens to our wondrous, blue and green planet. 

As the stewards of our fragile planet, we humans need to unite and speak out on behalf of all of Earth's inhabitants -- from plankton to polar bears to whales to redwoods. We are all interconnected. We all share the same home. Displaying a BE GREEN sticker gives you this voice. 

BE GREENs are everywhere, and we're encouraged by and proud of this growing phenomenon. The more BE GREENs out there, the louder our voice. Help the Earth to live. Help to make change. Let's keep this ripple going.

Doesn't that just make you want to buy their products? And let me tell you, there are a lot to choose from! Check out their website to see what other great products they offer. You can even sign up for Annie's newsletter, with recipes, product news and more! Annie's believes in giving back to the community by offering grants, scholarships, partnerships, etc. I love that!

For your BE GREEN bumper (or skateboard or bike or notebook) sticker, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

BE GREEN

                                                                          1610 5th Street
                                                                          Berkeley, CA  94710

Okay, now that I've told you all the great things about the company and their commitment to caring for the Earth, let me get back to the point of this review -- the mac and cheese! Did I like it? Absolutely! Was it as good as Kraft's. Yep. Was it healthier than Kraft's? Duh! Would I choose Annie's over Kraft's if I had kids at home still? You bet. Will I feed it to the grandkids? Without hesitation.

Here are the ingredients listed on the box: organic wheat macaroni, cheddar cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, non-animal enzymes), whey, nonfat milk, butter, salt, cultured whole milk, sodium phosphate, annatto extract for color. That's it.

I not only enjoyed the taste and texture of the mac and cheese, but I also really enjoyed reading the box (when's the last time you could say that about a product?). So I'm going to close this 2-green-thumbs-up review by quoting from the 'letter' Annie printed on the back of the box:

Dear Friend,
I've been in the food business for over twenty years and a mom and organic farmer for nearly ten. My three roles as mom, organic grower, and 'Annie' are very much intertwined. I've discovered that some of the same skills apply to both raising children and raising vegetables. With love, patience, and respect both children and vegetables flourish. The more experience I gain from being a mom and organic grower, the more these two roles influence my role as 'Annie.'

... Like all of Annie's products, our new Macaroni and Cheese contains ingredients all found in nature. No weird chemicals. No artificial anything -- just smooth, mild, all-natural cheese ... mmmm. And the pasta is certified organic. It's produced by family farmers who farm without harsh pesticides or fertilizers, who respect the environment and have an understanding or our interconnectedness with all life on this planet ...

Makes you wonder what the story is behind Kraft's macaroni and cheese and all the generic versions of it, doesn't it?

I know I'll be looking for the Annie's Homegrown brand from now on. It's a must-have on my grocery list. How about on yours?

Reviewing it for you,

Hana