Side dishes. To me, they give the meal personality. Take a pot roast for example. Serve it with mashed potatoes, and you have a typical American meal. Change it up and subtitute polenta romano, and the meal takes on a bit of an Italian flair. To keep it healthy, be sure that you serve at least one vegetable (preferably two vegetables or one vegetable with a salad) with a meal. Steamed broccoli and green beans are a staple in my home, but I also like to make broiled tomatoes or salads with multiple veggies. To get the most nutrition out of your veggies, serve them raw or steamed, and take it easy on the butter or sauces.
As for grains, I encourage you to look beyond white rice or enriched noodles and pasta. These three carbohydrates are very quickly absorbed into your system, making your blood sugar rise very quickly. This spike in your blood sugar will result in your body relasing more insulin and storing this energy as fat. Instead, opt for brown rice or whole wheat pasta. Both are higher in fiber and gentler to your blood sugar. There are also other grains that can be served, like cous-cous, bulgur, or quinoa. Quinoa has a nutty flavor that I love to combine with chopped fresh vegetables. I've included a recipe for taboulleh, something my mom made frequently when I was little. Cous-cous is wheat based and cooks very quickly. It is easy to season.
I encourage you to try something new this week. Remember that little (and big) taste buds might need to try something a few times before they truly like it. Keep trying! You might even like it....
How to Cook Grains
Balsamic Slaw
Broccoli Salad
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Cilantro Lime Rice
Deviled Eggs
Grilled Mixed Vegetables
Guacamole
Macaroni and Cheese
Mediterranean Salad
Orange Ginger Carrots
Parmesan-Herb Orzo Pasta
Pasta Salad
Polenta Romano
Potatoes au Gratin
Quinoa with Chopped Vegetables
Roasted Asparagus
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Sandy's Salad Topping
Scalloped Potatoes
Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Spanish Rice
Spinach Salad with Strawberries
Summer Tomato Salad
Secret Mashed Potatoes
Tabbouleh
Twice Baked Potatoes
Vinaigrette Potato Salad
