I'm having a hard time with side dishes. :(

dvisser1

I'll cook long grain brown rice in my counter top rice cooker, replacing 1/2 the water with chicken broth.

In a pan saute up 1 onion (very coarse chop) and 1-2 carrots in olive oil, sometimes adding in 1 stalk celery and/or 3/4 cup crimini mushrooms (chop to bite size) depending on what I have on hand. A little salt and pepper. When sauted up nicely, add rice and a good splash of rice wine vinegar (probably 1/4 or so). If you have nappa cabbage on hand, adding about 3/4 cup, very large chopped, at this time is good. Cabbage will wilt down a little. Toss this around the pan, adjust the seasoning (salt & pepper, sometimes I add a little oregano). Turn off the heat, but leave the pan on the burner for a minute. Fold in about 1/3 cup of chopped fresh tomatoes (I prefer roma or grape varieties) and serve.

Not sure the calorie count yet. Tons of flavor! Easy to make and is flexible based on what veg you have on hand. High fiber in the brown rice. I pair this with chicken, pork chops, fish....just about any meat and a fresh garden salad.

pigwidgeon82

we do a lot of sauteed squash and onions. soo delicious. we cook them with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and they are delicious.

also oven roasted asparagus.

we also boil green beans in a little chicken broth. that gives them a kick. i never get sick of them.

what about parmesan french fries? i cut up a potato into strips, coat in cooking spray, then sprinkle a little parsley and parmesan and bake in oven. they are delicious.

also, i have been doing cilantro lime basmati rice quite a bit lately. it isn't really bad for you and the lime gives it a little kick.