Boxed Macaroni and Cheese Hacks: What Else has Oat Milk in Store For You?

(Photo : Justin Sullivan)
Boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese are displayed on a grocery store shelf on February 22, 2019 in San Rafael, California

A snack lover has tried the boxed macaroni and cheese you can easily grab at a local grocery store. However, since it has the ingredients and the flavoring, you might be tired of the taste it offers, but still, you can't give them up. But what if I tell you that oat milk has the power to level up the taste of your favorite snack.

You may find oat milk in the section where almond milk and other non-dairy beverage are located. Grab that favorite blue box of mac and cheese and start stirring up the treat in your pan.

Oat Milk in Mac and Cheese

Jennifer Maldonado shares with Eat This Not That she discovered the oat milk's goodness in boxed mac and cheese when she substituted it with her usual almond milk since the sauce is not that thick and is a bit runny.

Cooking Chops notes that the oat milk has natural sugars, which will make your snack a little bit sweeter with thickness as the milk used is a regular cow's milk. However, they also note that if you don't want your mac and cheese to be sweet, you have to use unsweetened oat milk.

To boost the nutrients and make your macaroni and cheese healthier, Maldonado shares that you can incorporate corn. Broccoli, and chopped tomatoes, even avocados to make it creamier.

Oat Milk Benefits

(Photo : Leon Neal)
Cartons of vegan dairy-free oat milk are seen in a branch of the Planet Organic healthfood store on January 03, 2020 in London, England. Veganuary, a campaign launched in the UK in 2014, encourages people to "try vegan for January and beyond."

According to Good Housekeeping are one of the best options in case you do not want to drink a cow's milk for a while. They add that it is filled with whole grain, fiber, plant-based protein, Vitamin B, and minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium.

Science Alert shares that oat milk is made by soaking the oats with water overnight, then blending it and straining the liquid. They add that although this milk has low fat and naturally contains sugar, it has double the number of carbohydrates than regular cow's milk, making it unsuitable for people with diabetes. Good Housekeeping adds that people should choose the unsweetened version of the beverage and check the labels if there zero grams of added sugar per serving. Because of the nutrients and minerals they offer, Oat milk was deemed one of the best options when trying to avoid drinking milk.

Disadvantages

Just like other foods, oat milk has drawbacks. According to Fit Joy, most oat milk contains canola oil, highly inflammatory, and GMOs, since canola oil is genetically modified. Good Housekeeping adds that people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should not assume that this milk has no gluten because some oats are processed on shared equipment. They recommend looking for a Certified Gluten-Free symbol on their packaging to have peace of mind.

Oat Milk may sound perfect as part of the boxed macaroni and cheese hacks but be sure to take them into moderation. Just like any food, oat milk has advantages and disadvantages, but putting it as a recipe enhancer to your favorite snack will never hurt.