Kraft Dinner facts for kids
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A bowl of original recipe (aka "original flavour")
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| Owner | Kraft Heinz |
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| Introduced | 1936 |
| Markets | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand |
| Previous owners | Kraft Foods Inc. (1936–2012) |
Kraft Mac & Cheese is a popular and easy-to-make meal. It comes in a box with dried macaroni pasta and a special packet of cheese powder. You might know it as Kraft Dinner (or KD) in Canada, or just Mac and Cheese in other parts of the world.
This tasty meal is made by Kraft Foods Group. It was first sold in the United States in 1936. Back then, a box cost about 15 cents and could feed four people in just nine minutes! Soon after, in 1937, it also became available in Canada. Canadians really love it, eating much more of it per person than Americans do.
Over the years, many similar products have appeared. Kraft has also created different versions of its own Mac & Cheese. These include fancy varieties with liquid cheese sauce and single-serving cups you can heat in a microwave oven.
Contents
What is Kraft Mac & Cheese?
Kraft Mac & Cheese is known for being a quick and simple meal. It combines dried pasta with a special cheese powder. This powder helps the cheese last a long time without needing a refrigerator.
To make it, you cook the pasta, then mix in the cheese powder. You also add a little butter (or margarine) and milk. This turns the powder into a creamy, cheesy sauce that coats the noodles.
A Look Back: How it Started
The idea for this boxed meal came from a special kind of processed cheese. This cheese was made to last longer on shelves. James Lewis Kraft helped develop this type of cheese in 1916.
The Great Depression and World War II
The first idea for packaging macaroni and cheese together came from a salesman named Grant Leslie in 1936. He simply attached a packet of grated cheese to a box of pasta with a rubber band. This simple idea became a big hit.
The timing was perfect because of the Great Depression. During this tough time, families needed affordable and filling meals. Then, during World War II, food was carefully shared, and many families ate less meat. More women also started working outside the home. This meant people needed quick and easy meals.
Kraft Mac & Cheese was perfect because it was hearty and lasted for ten months. This was great since many homes didn't have refrigerators. During the war, people could even get two boxes for just one food ration stamp. The original box was yellow, but it changed to blue in 1954. This led to a famous ad campaign where kids asked for "The Blue Box."
Over the years, Kraft has added many new options. In 1999, Easy Mac was introduced for single servings. This version only needed water and could be made in a microwave. In 2015, Kraft announced important changes to its ingredients. They removed artificial preservatives and artificial dyes like Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. Instead, they started using natural colors from paprika, annatto, and turmeric. These changes were made because customers wanted more natural ingredients.
In 2018, Kraft-Heinz even released a "KD Shaker." This was a bottle of just the cheese powder, so people could add cheese flavor to anything they liked!
Meet Cheesasaurus Rex!
You might have seen the fun mascot for Kraft Mac & Cheese, Cheesasaurus Rex! He was first introduced in 1991.
Cheesasaurus Rex is a friendly orange Tyrannosaurus rex who loves all things cheesy and noodle-y. In commercials, he lives in a place called Noodletown. He is still a well-known character for the brand.
What's Inside? Nutrition Facts
| Nutritional value per 100 g | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 382 kcal (1,600 kJ) |
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71 g
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| Sugars | 11 g |
| Dietary fibre | 2 g |
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5.4 g
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| Saturated | 1 g |
| Trans | 0 g |
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Protein
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11 g
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| Vitamins | Quantity
%DV†
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| Vitamin D |
0%
0 μg |
| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
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| Calcium |
15%
145 mg |
| Iron |
25%
3.3 mg |
| Potassium |
8%
250 mg |
| Sodium |
56%
836 mg |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. Source: FoodData Central, USDA |
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A 100-gram serving of prepared Kraft Mac & Cheese has about 382 calories. Calories are a measure of energy from food. It contains mostly carbohydrates (71%), which give your body energy. It also has some protein (11%), important for building and repairing your body. There is also a small amount of fat (5%).
This meal is a good source of iron and has some calcium. Iron helps your blood carry oxygen, and calcium is important for strong bones. It also contains sodium, which is a type of salt.
Different Kinds of Kraft Mac & Cheese
Kraft Mac & Cheese comes in many forms to suit different tastes and needs.
- Original Recipe: This is the classic version with dry macaroni pasta and a packet of powdered cheese. You add milk and butter to make the sauce.
- Deluxe: This version comes with a ready-made, creamy cheese sauce in a foil pouch. You don't need to add extra milk or butter. The pasta in this one is usually elbow macaroni.
Quick & Easy Cups
- Dinner Cups: These are single-serving portions, once known as Kraft Easy Mac. You can prepare them quickly in a microwave oven. They are very popular with students.
Restaurant Style
- Commercial Version: Some restaurants, like Burger King and Applebee's, serve a special frozen version of Kraft Mac & Cheese. It's already prepared and just needs to be heated up.
Fun Flavor Boosters
- Flavour Boosts: In 2021, Kraft Heinz released special packets of flavor boosters in Canada. You can stir these into your prepared Kraft Dinner to add exciting new tastes. Flavors include Jalapeño, Poutine, Buffalo Wings, and even Cotton Candy!
Kraft Dinner Smart: Healthy Choices
Kraft Dinner Smart, also called KD Smart, is a healthier line of Kraft Mac & Cheese. These products have no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. They also include extra ingredients like cauliflower, oats, or flax seed mixed into the noodles.
This line was first launched in Canada in 2010. It offers different varieties, including options with added Omega-3 and High Fibre.
Fun Shapes and Flavors
Beyond the classic elbow macaroni, Kraft Mac & Cheese pasta comes in many fun shapes. You can find shapes inspired by pop culture, alphabets, numbers, and spirals. There are also organic and whole-grain versions available. For bigger families, there are larger "family size" boxes too.
How Kraft Mac & Cheese is Advertised
Kraft Mac & Cheese is often advertised to children on television. These ads sometimes encourage kids to ask for "The Blue Box".
Special Promotions
Kraft often creates special versions of its Mac & Cheese for kids. These packages come with pasta shaped like popular characters from shows and movies. You might find pasta in the shapes of Looney Tunes, Super Mario Bros., or Star Wars characters.
In 2010, Kraft sponsored a special event to introduce a new "Cheddar Explosion" flavor. They held a national essay contest for children who had made a difference in their community. The winner, 11-year-old Casey Rogers, got to push the button to start a controlled demolition event.
Images for kids
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Kraft Macaroni & Cheese preparation—pot of boiling water with pasta inside, package of cheese powder (labeled "Kraft cheese sauce mix"), and colander to separate the noodles from the cooking water
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Kraft Dinner (with the KD label) is packaged with a processed cheese powder packet (Canada, 2018).
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The American version of the cheese powder
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Additional ingredients are needed for a "Classic Prep" of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese—milk, butter, and cheese powder—which are added to the noodles.
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American Kraft Mac & Cheese served on a plate in Sweden, garnished with fresh spinach leaves
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A Canadian meal—Kraft Dinner with added Cheddar that has been integrated with sliced vegetarian hot dog and fresh tomato slices
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Kraft Easy Mac close-up
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Original-flavour Kraft Dinner sold in bulk 12-pack sizes in Canada
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See also
In Spanish: Kraft Dinner para niños
