Let’s be honest, we all enjoy having the work of cooking done for us now and then. Instead of going out to eat, try this easy, balanced and nutritious meal: Lean Cuisine’s Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese and a Fall Protein Salad!
Disclosure: This content was created in partnership with the Balance Your Plate program. Opinions are my own.
Earlier this year I had the chance to visit a Nestlé facility and learn about the Balance Your Plate approach. Balance Your Plate is an educational framework that helps people assemble quick, nutritious meals by combining a pre-made entrée with fresh produce and additional protein or whole grains. The formula is simple and time-saving: frozen or chilled entrée + fruit/vegetable + extra protein = a balanced plate.
The Balance Your Plate equation is a straightforward way to save time while eating well.
Just follow this formula: frozen or chilled entrée + fruit/veggie/protein = a balanced plate.
This post demonstrates how to balance a plate using Lean Cuisine Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese paired with a bright Fall Protein Salad. The mac and cheese serves as the comforting, pre-portioned entrée, while the salad adds fiber, vitamins and plant-based protein—together creating a complete meal that’s easy to prepare and satisfying.
One serving of Lean Cuisine Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese contains approximately 250 calories and 14 grams of protein, making it a solid base for a balanced lunch or dinner. To round out the plate I paired it with a kale-based salad containing kidney beans and pepitas for added plant protein, along with apple and pomegranate for seasonal sweetness, and a simple vinaigrette enhanced with a touch of cinnamon to echo fall flavors.
If you get stuck in a meal rut, rotating in different pre-made entrées like this mac and cheese can help diversify nutrients and flavors without adding more time in the kitchen. Pre-portioned frozen entrées also take the guesswork out of portion control—add a fruit, a vegetable and a protein or whole grain and you’ve got a balanced plate in minutes.
Below is the simple recipe for the Fall Protein Salad that pairs perfectly with the Lean Cuisine entrée. The dressing makes extra, so you can use it on other salads throughout the week. This combination keeps prep short—cook the Lean Cuisine according to package directions while you toss together the salad and whisk the dressing.
Vermont Cheddar Mac and Cheese with Fall Protein Salad
Try this easy and nutritious way to balance your plate with a pre-made entrée and a fresh, protein-forward salad.
Ingredients
- 1 Lean Cuisine Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
- 2 cups kale, washed and chopped
- 1/2 cup Fuji apple, washed and cubed
- 1 tablespoon pepitas
- 1/4 cup kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate arils
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Lean Cuisine Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese according to the package directions.
- While the entrée is cooking, make the salad. In a large bowl, toss the kale with cubed apple, pepitas, kidney beans and pomegranate arils.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, ground cinnamon, olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to make the dressing. This yields about 1/2 cup of dressing—more than one serving, so you’ll have leftovers for another salad.
- Drizzle the amount of dressing you prefer over the salad, toss to combine, and serve alongside the mac and cheese for a balanced meal.
Notes
Dressing will make about 1/2 cup—save any extra in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Swap ingredients based on seasonality or what you have on hand: try spinach for the kale, pears instead of apple, or chickpeas instead of kidney beans.
Nutritional information provided by product packaging and recipe estimates should be considered approximate. Ingredient brands and portion sizes can change nutritional content.
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Enjoy a quick, nutritious meal by pairing a pre-portioned entrée like Lean Cuisine Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese with a fresh fall salad for added fiber, vitamins and protein—an effortless way to Balance Your Plate.