Mac 'n' Cheese, Please

Nothing says comfort food like a warm bowl of mac ’n’ cheese. Whether you prefer yours made from a box or homemade, you can thank Thomas Jefferson for bringing the classic dish to colonial America.

This Founding Father did more than just write the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson worked in France from 1785 to 1789. While there, he tried many “exotic” foods—including french-fried potatoes, Parmesan cheese, and mac ’n’ cheese. 

Nothing says comfort food like a warm bowl of mac ’n’ cheese. You might like yours made from a box. Or maybe you prefer it homemade. You can thank Thomas Jefferson either way! He brought this classic dish to colonial America.

Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. But he did more than just that! The Founding Father also worked in France from 1785 to 1789. He tried many “exotic” foods while he was there. He ate french-fried potatoes. He tasted Parmesan cheese. He also tried mac ’n’ cheese!

Jefferson brought his favorites back to America. As president, he even put mac ’n’ cheese on the menu at a state dinner in 1802!

But mac ’n’ cheese didn’t become a crowd-pleaser overnight. In 1929, more than 100 years after Jefferson served the dish, the Great Depression hit the United States. Many people lost their jobs and ran short on food. 

Food makers scrambled to produce quick, cheap meals. In 1937, Kraft Foods introduced boxed mac ’n’ cheese. Priced at 19 cents (the equivalent of $3.36 today), a box could feed a family of four. The rest, as they say, is history!

Jefferson brought his favorite new foods back to America. He even put mac ‘n’ cheese on the menu at an official state dinner in 1802, during his time as president!

Mac ’n’ cheese didn’t become a national favorite meal right away. The Great Depression hit the United States in 1929, more than 100 years after Jefferson first served the dish. Many people lost their jobs. They didn’t have enough food.

Food makers scrambled to produce meals that were cheap and quick to make. Kraft Foods introduced boxed mac ’n’ cheese in 1937. One box cost 19 cents. That’s worth $3.36 today. Just one box could feed a family of four. The rest is history!