Mac ’n’ Cheese is my daughter Anela’s fave school lunch. Now that she’s in high school and officially a big girl, I decided to introduce the thermos. Does it work? Hell yes! The key is to fill it with boiling water first and close the lid so the internal lining of the stainless steel heats up. Let it sit for 10 minutes before replacing the hot water with the hot food. OK, so back to the mac ’n’ cheese. This is a quick and easy go-to; one that I can make fresh in the morning while I drink my coffee. For the record, this thermos always comes back empty – well worth a go.

TIPS
If your kids are adventurous, you can spice it up a little by adding a sprinkle of smoked paprika.

Gluten free
There are a heap of awesome gluten-free pasta choices available from the supermarket.

Dairy free/vego/vegan
For a dairy-free and vegan option, ditch the milk for water or a plant-based milk. Stir dairy-free butter through the pasta after you’ve drained the water/ milk. I’d recommend a dairy-free grated parmesan but only use half a cup as it’s a little bitey.

Add the parmesan while on low heat.