side dishes??
cauliflower based fauxtato salad
mexican rice (salsa in cooked/riced cauliflower)
sesame/soy/ginger broccoli
tons more to be found here
Well...first of all, who says you have to eat a starch with dinner? I know i was brought up that way, but this past year I rarely feed it to my family with dinner. I figure they get enough starches with other meals. Why not have two veggies? Or a veggie and a fruit dessert at the same time as dinner? Or how about cut up fruit pieces? Or a big salad with tons of trimmings, pineapple, oranges, eggs, different cheeses, sprouts, dandelions, edible flowers, you get the point. I do this often, I'm a big salad fanatic.
Kids love fruit with their dinner, I know your little one is toos mall yet, but a good habit to get into it. Won't hurt the older kids (husband) too. :) Cut up canteloupe, or even smoothies and serve them half frozen in little pretty dessert bowls ALONG with your dinner to be part of it. It's filling and good! I do this often too.
you can either steam or BBQ the asparagus spears (BBQ is the best!)
Then to make the glaze just boil one cup of balsamic vinegrette in a saucepan until it reduces down to about 1/4 c. and its all thick and syrupy, then drizzle over the asparagus spears, its soo yummy!
Don't forget the humble lentil! Last night I made a sort of pilaf by adding a brown rice mixture and lentils to sauteed diced carrots, celery, onion, and garlic - oh and mushrooms. Cooked this in vegetable broth. You could skip the rice and it would still be delicious. Another thing we like is quinoa, which is high in protein.
I agree that we've sort of been brainwashed that we have to get something like potatoes, rice, or noodles into our menu. Not necessary!
