Recently the macaroni and cheese market has expanded with brands and flavors. However, there’s always the two major competitors that stay on top: the blue box vs. the bunny.

I’m not sure if you’re as mac and cheese crazy as my family was, but we grew up with our heart and soul in Annie’s macaroni and cheese. My mom always tried to make it healthier by adding peas and ham, but the majority was the delicious cheddar white shelled pasta.

As you can tell, I was born into the Annie’s mac and cheese world. In my childhood there was no room for Kraft, it was Annie’s or nothing.

Although I grew up obsessed with the white cheddar shells coming from the purple box with a bunny on it, college has taught me to love Kraft as well.

Kraft sells their individual bowls everywhere! It’s almost impossible not to buy Kraft. They make it so easy, selling it at Rite-Aid and the C-Store.

The dos and don'ts of mac and cheese:

Do:

1. The box doesn’t call for butter, but add butter to the pasta after it is strained. This is the trick to cheesy perfection.

2. Try mac and cheese on different foods. The Grilled Cheesy has a mouth watering mac and cheese grilled cheese with bacon, to die for. Camellia Grill’s mac and cheese bites are one of a kind. You don’t have to contain your love for mac and cheese to a bowl, experiment!

Don’t

1. Don’t listen to the amount of milk the box says. Add about half the amount of milk it calls for. If you add the full amount it calls for, you’ll create a cheesy swamp.

2. Read the box for instructions on how to cook the pasta. Always undercook the pasta by one minute from what it says on the box. Pasta keeps cooking even after you strain the water so prepare yourself for this and don’t have overcooked pasta.

Now if you really wanted to break the two down health wise, here it goes:

Kraft:

• 400 calories
• 170 calories from fat
• 19 grams of fat

Annie’s:

• 280 calories
• 40 calories from fat
• 6.5 grams of fat

Looking at the facts, if it’s one of those nights where you plan on eating a whole box yourself, it may be wise to side with Annie’s for that night.

No matter what age you are, I know we all love mac and cheese. Even adults order fettuccine alfredo when they go out, a fancier version of mac and cheese.