Banza Mac and Cheese Review + Giveaway! #DressUpYourMac

Mac & cheese is a kids’ classic and what could be more fun than eating it? Creating it!

Recently, Banza debuted their campaign, #DressUpYourMac, in partnership with Whole Foods, inviting mac & cheese lovers everywhere to add their own special twist and make a unique mac & cheese dish with personality – fun toppings, hot spices, and pops of color.  

What can you do with your Banza mac & cheese? 

Let the family get creative and crazy this whole year through, then share your mac-sterpiece pics with @eatbanza using #DressUpYourMac.   

Naturally nutritious – Banza has 2x the protein, 4x the fiber, and 40% fewer net carbs per serving than traditional pasta (it's also GF and non-GMO) – fans are taking this simple comfort food and adding their own extra health-ified flair – spinach, asparagus, cayenne pepper, sriracha … you name it!

My Thoughts: 

I was able to try the three of the varieties of mac and cheeses that Banza offers. Each was unique in it's own way, leaving a perfect match for whatever type of mac and cheese you desire. 

The first flavor I tried was the Deluxe Rich and Creamy Cheddar Elbows. The box contains a wrapper filled with soft cheese that you squeeze out and mix with the milk and butter. It came out extremely rich, thick and cheesy. Yum! The box said not to rinse the pasta after it was done, so the consistency was a little starchy for my taste. However, it had a wonderful flavor. The pasta was perfectly al dente. This would be a wonderful type of mac and cheese to bake in the oven with some bread crumbs as a topping! That's my personal favorite way to doctor up my cheesy pasta!  

The next variety I tried was the Classic Cheddar. Like traditional boxed mac and cheese, this comes with powered cheese. The flavor had a sharp and tangy taste. If you are a person who loves sharp cheddar, you will adore this! The cheese was nice and creamy. Like the previous Banza mac and cheese, the pasta was nice and al dente. I did rinse off this pasta to see how the consistency would be. It was much less starchy that the previous one. If I were to think of a way to dress this dish, I think some freshly shredded cheese and bacon would go perfectly, or some broccoli!    

My favorite out of the group has to be the White Cheddar! It was thick with a light cheddar flavor at first, while the after taste had a nice bite. The strong flavor of the chickpea pasta was outweighed a bit by the cheese flavor, making the mixture of both fantastic! I felt this one was probably the closest to traditional mac and cheese flavor. This variety would go great with almost anything to be honest. If you are a spicy lover, perhaps a little hot sauce on top, or for my seafood lovers some lump crab or lobster meat! 

If you are someone who enjoys chickpea pasta and/or are looking for a healthier alternative to a life long favorite, I would highly suggest giving Banza's variety a try! With it having 40% less cards than traditional pasta, as well as being gluten free and non-gmo, this is a great guilt free food for you and your family to enjoy! 

The Giveaway:   

Thanks to Banza, one lucky reader will have an opportunity to try these delicious varieties of mac and cheeses. Thank you so much Banza for this awesome opportunity and for also allowing me to try them!   

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The Real Co Review

The Real Co honors its Irish roots by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! Throughout the month, The Real Co is encouraging individuals to participate in the Irish tradition of the “wearing of the green”, dressing their food with vibrant green ingredients! As the base for all recipes, The Real Co asks folks to use their certifiable, 100% Single Origin products, including: Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, and organically grown White Basmati Rice.

The Real Co is a pioneer in Single Origin foods, where they honor the pact of transparency and never play-up the integrity of their sourcing. The Real Co promises its consumers a clear understanding of the source of their food, the methods used for farming, & how it is packaged & delivered. Honesty & trust is something that they take very seriously and are extremely proud to achieve!

The Real Co Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, handcrafted, in the Himalayan Mountains. This salt is 100% pure, 100% Single Origin, non-GMO; is unrefined and mountain washed in Himalayan mountain water, packing a whopping 84 active minerals in every grain! Mineral rich salt has far-reaching health benefits including reducing blood pressure, preventing muscle cramping, strengthening bones and more. 

The Real Co Organic Raw Cane Sugar, directly from Assukar Farms, Tayutic Valley in Costa Rica is 100%natural and organic, 100% Single Origin, non-GMO, and contains many natural vitamins & minerals.

The Real Co White Basmati Rice, directly from Gujrat Punjab from Farid Co-op Farm, is 100% natural and 100% Single Origin, low-GI & pre biotic, and non-GMO! The Real Co White Basmati Rice was farmed using no additives, no chemicals, and no pesticides.. The Real Co White Basmati Rice is a “super grain”, containing all essential Amino Acids and folic acid, and is gluten free and cholesterol free!

Our Thoughts

I love whole foods! It is so important to eat organic and especially non-GMO foods because they are filled with chemicals that are very unhealthy for us! The Real Co is committed to providing the best ingredients!

The packaging is very eco-friendly looking. The sugar and rice packages have lips on them that you can roll down and tuck behind to save for later! I noticed the sugar would get kind of clumpy but it'd loosen up as soon as I shook it. I simply stored it in a less humid area of my kitchen and that solved the problem.

The rice is delicious! It takes way more water than conventional rice does but it's well worth the effort. I am not the best person at making rice, I leave that up to my husband, but this turned out great. There weren't any leftovers at all!

I could go on and on about Pink Himalayan Salt. Real salt is crucial to our body's well-being and this container is huge!! This will last me for months because it's much more potent than your typical table salt that you buy at the store. Who doesn't love a little pink sprinkled on their food anyway? It's fun!!

You can't beat The Real Co with their real food and ingredients! This is an affordable brand that should be in everyone's kitchen. I love knowing it's in mine and that I'm providing my family with the best!

Buy your items here and don't forget to check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Reviewed by Jackie