When I was a kid, my mom was a single parent for a while, and let’s just say, free time was not on her side. She worked full-time and managed to raise me, and I vividly remember us enjoying TV dinners together, perched on our TV trays while watching, well, TV. Swanson’s dinners were my jam. My mom had it down to an art — cook it too long, and the brownie turned into a lump of coal; cook it too short, and those mashed potatoes would be one angry, hard square. Did she know about all the preservatives and sodium in those meals? Honestly, I couldn’t care less.
This week, I noticed Kraft announced they’re ditching artificial preservatives and synthetic colors from their beloved mac and cheese by early 2016, meaning goodbye to that iconic bright orange hue. Trina Martinez, Kraft’s marketing VP for meals, claimed that “Consumers, especially parents, have been asking us for food they feel good about serving their families.” Well, Trina, that’s a nice thought, but honestly, just let us enjoy our mac and cheese as it is!
I adore that orange goo that sometimes gets stuck in the corners of my mouth. There’s something magical about finding that perfect water-to-powder ratio, creating a delightful explosion of flavor in my mouth. Changing that iconic color? No way! That’s part of the experience.
And get this — I don’t feel guilty about serving it to my kids! I’m a married mom of three, and both my husband and I work full-time while juggling our lives outside of work and parenting (cue the gasps). Sure, there are many nights I whip up nutritious home-cooked meals. But let’s be real; some evenings, a quick box of mac and cheese or a Totino’s Party Pizza is just what the doctor ordered.
Are these the healthiest options? Not at all! Do they contain preservatives, chemicals, and saturated fats? Absolutely. But when I’ve got only 34 minutes to whip up dinner before darting off to soccer practice with one kid and hockey with another, I’ll take what I can get. Could I have set my alarm 30 minutes earlier to prepare something wholesome? Sure, but sometimes those extra minutes of sleep are too precious to give up. Other times, I might be sneaking in some quality time with my husband or simply recovering from a long day with the kids.
I know many parents insist it’s our duty to shield our kids from every harmful product out there, advocating for only organic, grass-fed everything. And while that’s great in theory, I assure you that my kids won’t develop any lifelong health issues from an occasional orange noodle, just as a health-conscious, unprocessed-eating child won’t suffer because they snagged a box of Skittles dipped in Nutella when their mom isn’t looking.
As a society, I think we might be swinging too far in the opposite direction. Yes, understanding what’s in our food is important, but let’s not feel guilty for sharing some Oreos (served with organic almond milk, of course) with our kids every now and then.
So, for all my fellow middle-of-the-road moms: sing it loud and proud with me: Leave our mac and cheese alone!
For more parenting insights and humorous takes on family life, check out some of our other blog posts, like how to navigate home insemination and the resources available on pregnancy at the CDC.
Summary: Kraft’s decision to remove artificial preservatives and synthetic colors from their iconic mac and cheese has sparked a passionate response. Many parents, like Jamie, appreciate the nostalgic experience of enjoying the classic orange goo, while balancing the challenges of modern parenting. They argue that occasional indulgences, like mac and cheese, don’t spell disaster for their children’s health. Amidst the push for healthier options, there’s a call to embrace the joy of simple, quick meals in the busy lives of parents.