Old Man Winter has been in full force on the East coast this week. These cold temps ran me into the kitchen to whip up some comfort food.

Soup is my ultimate cold weather comfort food. But, mac & cheese runs a close second.

Inspired by this Whole Wheat Macaroni & Cheese recipe from the blog 100 Days of Real Food, I used whole wheat elbow macaroni, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, whole wheat Panko, nonfat milk and a mix of fat-free Cheddar cheese and a reduced fat Mexican blend cheese. Wanting a little green and a lot more protein, I stirred in some frozen green peas and a pouch of tuna. Then, I threw a little more Panko on top and baked until crisp.

Paired with roasted broccoli, this comfort dish was delicious and just what Old Man Winter ordered.

TELL US: Try adding canned or pouch tuna to your next batch of mac’n’cheese and tell us about it. It’s a great way to “up” your protein and omega-3s in this favorite classic dish. We’d love to hear from you!

Posted by Rima Kleiner, MS, RD