As a non-diet dietitian, I don't recommend focusing on healthifying foods unless you truly like the flavor and enjoy those foods. Swapping the cheese for vegetables or just cutting down on the cheese completely changes the dish. And if you want mac & cheese, anything other than creamy, cheesy pasta will leave you disappointed. If you do want to add in some protein or vegetables, this protein mac and cheese recipe is great (b/c added protein!) and you can add some broccoli or another vegetable to the cooking pasta. No need to hide vegetables in your dinner, just add some if you like them and move on with your life! If you're curious about this approach to eating, read about it more here.