Ideas For Sides!

As most of you know, I have been watching what I am eating and portioning out what I eat etc.  The challenge I have is trying to find healthier alternatives for some side dishes for example I eat a lot of potatoes and brown rice. Which I want to stop.  I am trying to eat better and I am as far as I am eating sweet potatoes when I can and brown rice instead of white rice.  But what dishes do you guys eat instead of brown rice or potatoes with your dinner? Quinoa is good too, I like it but it seems to be very high in calories.  I have tried googling different recipes (for healthier side dishes) but honestly I don't want something that is overly complicated to make.  What do you guys make to go with your dinners? I usually have a protein, starch/grain and veggies.  I need ideas!

Cauliflower rice. In fact, there are so many things you can do with cailiflower. You can even make a mock rice pudding.

You will need to substitute many of these recipes to be more low-carb friendly, but it should give you a good idea of where to start. Allrecipes has a section of low carb recipes, and you can find many more online. Be wary though, some people's version of "low carb" may differ from yours. 

Perhaps upping the veg for now and cutting out as much carb as possible. Post op you will probably not be eating ay potatoes or rice. I congratulate you on trying to cut back I know it is not easy pre-op.

The Ontario recipes forum has several sides ideas: http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/ontario_recipes/discussion/ 4270618/Side-Dishes/

Thank you for that link, when I try to click on it, it says my account does not have permissions to view it?!?! Thank you everyone for your phenomenal idea.

All you have to do is click on "join group" and then click on "discussion" to see all of the recipe threads. :)

M&M meats used to make the BEST green bean casserole but they stopped selling it for some unknown reason. Now I make my own with frozen green beans and a can of mushroom soup, little bit of Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top or low fat mozzarella. Optional is to crush up Breton wheat crackers and sprinkle a little on top for a little crunch ...but that adds carbs ...not a ton though if you just use a few crackers for the whole casserole. Bake covered 350, 15 min....uncover for 5 more minutes in the oven. Its pretty good =)

If you want to skip the canned mushroom soup you can just use sliced mushrooms and a bit of reduced fat cream =)

Sautéed zucchini and eggplant are big hits with hubby. I gave up bread, rice, pasta a few years ago and he's trying to give them up too. When I say gave up I mean going from eats it almost every day to maybe 1-2 times per month and I don't keep it in the house. Naturally now that I'm postop I don't plan to try anything grainy until maintenance.

What about roasted cauliflower and carrots? I like to put in a little ginger and white wine. Ooh, or green beans with a little olive oil, onion, ginger, nutmeg, white wine and low sodium soy sauce.

i think I'm hungry...no veggies for me for another few weeks lol.

My common sides are mostly vegetables. Asparagus and I usually have a traditional Greek salad. Not lettuce. Could eat it every day. 

Steam a whole cauliflower cut up in small pieces in a steamer (not in water but above it or else cauli gets to wet)  Steam until quite soft - mash like you would potatoes, add 1/2 log goat cheese or add parmesan.  I usually roast cauli with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and parmesan - delish. I eat a lot of broccoli and green beans and asparagus when in season.  But if you miss potatoes do the cauliflower - you will be surprised how well it replaces mash potatoes. I don't do a lot of grains. Post surgery I get in protein always first and if there is room I eat veggies - usually only one per meal. As you are presurg - do two different veggies or one veg and salad.