Is mac and cheese a legitimate meal?

To me, it's not balanced... it needs protein (some ground meat or hot dogs) and more vegetables.

I understand the budget of a group home is restrictive, but really... feed the people better. That would ONLY be a legitimate meal in PRISON !!

EDIT - I'm guessing it is a boxed Mac & Cheese which is NOT real cheese... but processed flavors and protein powder.

Yes, it is an actual meal. Plenty of people have mac&cheese as their lunch or dinner. When I worked at a summer camp, this meal was given out a few times and the campers loved it. The pasta serves as the carb, and the cheese is the dairy. Granted, there's no meat or vegetables, they might make up with that at dinner or something.

Also you must remember that you are working at a group home. It would be silly to expect something that's nutritonally balanced in every way at every meal there. Also I'm sure they have hot dogs on other occasions, but I'm sure they like switching up the menu and such.

If you're never had mac&cheese as a meal, I'm surprised lol.

Sounds valid. Mac and cheese covers protein, fat, and starch, no different than a grilled cheese sandwich. You wouldn't claim a cheese sandwich isn't a meal would you?

I'd be questioning the lack of vegetables and fiber.

Americans get plenty of meat, they don't need it every meal. However, they don't get enough veggies, I would have added some to the Mac, some broccoli or zucchini,

It's not a real meal in my opinion. However, the cheese is the protein & dairy, the pasta is the grain, the fruit is the fruit/vege. Technically, it fits all 4 food groups.

Yes macaroni and cheese is actually a meal. They don't have to serve meat at every meal, it's not a requirement. I know a lot of places who serve macaroni and cheese for meals. I've worked with kids in the past and a lot of facilities that work with kids serve macaroni and cheese for meals. It is considered a real meal.

The cheese is protein and a substitute for meat. If a person ate 2 other good meals that day it would be fine. You wouldn't want to do that often though. My wife and I eat mac and cheese only for dinner sometimes.

it is essentially low complexity carbs with fat. It isn't a good quality meal from a nutrition perspective. I would class it alongside junk food.

Hot dogs are a bad choice too. Cheap crappy processed meat.

You want a good variety of carbs, fat, protein and fibre. The fruit bowl is good but they should really be eating more vegitables.

I like meals that have a whole tin of tomatoes as a healthy base. Bolognase with quorn mince on brown pasta is a good and easy meal.

A meal is whatever you make it, but if you're asking if that's a balanced diet, NNNNNOOOOOTTT.

It is in my opinion,milk,cheese product

No, they should have a meat, fruit and veggie as well.