Again, kid logic. Plus, many young parents don't know (or care) how to properly cook veggies anyway. It's a choice between canned (and usually salted) veggies, or similarly mushy, over-microwaved fresh/frozen veggies with little seasoning or flavor. It's not like the green beans are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar.

You could probably mix some frozen broccoli or a diced red onion in there. Its still pretty affordable. I know I do that some Kraft. I also sometimes mix in hotdogs or shredded chicken.

Cutting up pickles with boxed Mac. and Cheese was one of my favorite go-tos, in grad. school. If not pickles then I used to put canned tuna in; also quite good.