Customer Reviews

Annie's Homegrown Organic Whole Wheat Shells & Cheddar, 6-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been eating Annie's Mac n' Cheese (not the whole wheat type) since 1994. Amazon offers a excellent price (around $1.50 per box for certified organic, whoa!) and if I'm going to commit upfront to 12 boxes of mac and cheese, I figured I try to be a little healthier and get the whole wheat type.

It is a quality product but it isn't suited to my taste buds. I am surprised because I prefer brown rice and wild rice to white rice and generally enjoy whole wheat products. But to this eater, the whole wheat shells were too heavy and chewy. The watery white cheddar sauce enhanced the pasta's rougher texture and blandness. (The white cheddar sauce is like an alfredo, and less creamy than Annie's regular cheddar.) My friends love this stuff, but I think it's an acquired tasted. If I had known what I know now, I'd have stuck with the enriched white (yet stripped of it's nutrients) shells or at least gone with the regular cheddar sauce.

*Update*

While still not a full-on fan, I enjoying this product more now that:

1. Tastes much better when cooked 10-11 minutes at sea-level (the box recommends 8-10), the texture is less rough and gummy and is more noodle-y.

2. Adding fresh herbs with the cheese sauce. It gives a depth to the flavor. My favorite herb to add (so far) is cilantro (add about 1/3 cup chopped after mixing in the cheese sauce). Other enjoyable variations were adding 2/3 cup of Italian parsley or 1/8 cup fresh dill leaves.

We've been struggling to move our kids from processed foods to healthier alternatives over the last couple of years, and Annie's whole-wheat macaroni and cheese has been a big element of our success in this campaign... They love the taste and we feel good about the nutritional value, the quality of the food, and the relative "social conscience" that the company espouses.

By the way: it really is tasty stuff. I try not to eat a lot of carbs these days, but I always steal a few bites when I make them lunch. The creamy-cheese sauce is more reminiscent of a good, light alfredo than of the nasty, gluey, neon-orange stuff you get from the big brands, and whole wheat macaroni is mildly flavored (and therefore and easier transition for kids and processed-wheat addicts).

I've recently decided to switch to eating whole grains and we picked up a box of this at a health food store as an alternative to the Kraft mac and cheese that my son likes. I prepared it as per the instructions and the sauce was runny and quite flavorless. After one bite my son wouldn't eat any more and after I had a bite too, I couldn't blame him because it was just nasty. I don't have any problems eating whole wheat pasta and neither does my son, but we couldn't eat this. I am a firm believer that food can be both healthy and delicious at the same time. This may be healthy but it is not tasty which means to me that it is not worth eating. Try the Hodgson Mills whole wheat macaroni and cheese instead. It is so much better.

All by itself, I would have to give this a 3. But, as I've learned with most packaged food, it can be easily made into a 5. I prepare as described on the box and top with mixed Italian herbs, crushed red pepper, and a pinch of shredded Parmesan. Not only does it look more appetizing, but it tastes great! And these are things I usually keep around the house, so I just grabbed whatever I had and it only adds about 30 seconds to the prep process. I highly recommend if you're willing to add things you like to flavor it up.

some might find it too chewy and nutty. even fully cooked it tastes healthy, and some might not like that. the sauce is perfect though, and i like being reminded that its good for me.

My son loves this and I feel better giving him whole wheat pasta than the traditional one.

I love this mac and cheese. I switched to whole wheat pasta a few years ago and this is one of the best alternatives that fit the traditional American dish. I mix it with a can of tuna and I could eat it every night of the week. You do have to cook the noodles longer because they are more dense than the processed enriched noodles you get at the store. I've managed to convert my husband to the whole wheat pasta, but he still likes his Kraft Mac and Cheese. What can I say? I'm going healthy and its still tasty.

Not as good as the non wheat one, but the whole wheat is okay. Takes a little getting used to, but that is the way of all wheat instead of white.

return macaroni and sauce to pan and heat until desired consistency is reached.

I find that the flavor of Annie's is really much better than anything else out there. Not too salty with a great cheese taste.

I honestly don't care for the taste of the white cheddar. It was too bland and chalky for me (not smooth and creamy). My husband is finishing the case for me since he is not picky about food as long as it is made for him. The shells were yummy and when cooked long enough I found them to have a nice consistency and were tasty without the white cheddar sauce. Don't forget to mix the power and the milk together before adding the pasta, I know it is on the box but who takes the time to read the box?