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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on May 18, 2015 22:38:45 GMT
I've always been a fan of the "What's for Dinner" posts. But after reading them, I feel like I make a lot more side dishes than most people do.
If you make something for dinner (say a protein), how many side dishes do you normally make? I probably make too many because I have a picky eater or two in my house! But I'm just curious as to what everyone else does!
For instance tonight, I made a pot roast (DD#1's pick, and she is our pickiest eater). I am also making steamed broccoli, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and steamed carrots. That way everyone is having something along with the pot roast that they enjoy.
If we grill out, I always make baked beans, mac & cheese, devilled eggs and a salad. So pretty much 4 side dishes are standard for us. Is that too many?
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Post by freecharlie on May 18, 2015 22:39:34 GMT
one, maybe two tops
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,443
Location: Fergus, Ontario
Jun 26, 2014 11:53:40 GMT
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Post by cakediva on May 18, 2015 22:40:30 GMT
I'm pretty much protein, starch and veggie. I tend to avoid the starch, DS tends to only eat the protein depending on the veggie offered....lol
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Post by gar on May 18, 2015 22:41:58 GMT
My norm is a protein, a starch/carb and 3 veges. What's too many though? Too much work? Too much clearing up? Too many choices for picky eaters? I didn't pander to my kids too much because it made too much work...but that was years ago
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
Jun 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT
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Post by brandy327 on May 18, 2015 22:42:51 GMT
I do a lean meat, a starch and a veggie...sometimes 2 veggies if I'm avoiding the starch and want more.
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Post by icedcoffee14 on May 18, 2015 22:45:02 GMT
It varies for me. Typically 2 sides unless it is a pasta or soup then usually just a salad as a side.
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Post by anxiousmom on May 18, 2015 22:45:06 GMT
Not that many...if I make a protein as a main dish, I will make a starchy kind of thing and veggie kind of thing.
But, I also am a take it or leave it kind of cook. If someone isn't particularly fond of what I make, then they go without. For example, I have a kid that doesn't care for mashed potatoes. If I make them, then he eats the other stuff, but I am not going to make mac/cheese so he has something instead. Or he sucks it up and eats some of the mashed potatoes.
But we also eat a lot of meatless meals where I mix things together so it won't look like a traditional meat/sides kind of meal.
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Post by cindyupnorth on May 18, 2015 22:46:28 GMT
That IS a lot more then normal I think. I only do 1 or 2. Mainly 2, but sometimes I'll just do one. Like for a pot roast, I wouldn't necessarily even make extra sides, because I put carrots, and pot's in with the roast. If we grill, I will do like a baked bean and chips, or just one or the other.
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on May 18, 2015 22:46:37 GMT
I'm with cakediva. I sometimes have two fruit/vegetables, but usually two sides. I very rarely prepare two starches, but I did fix single serving rice when I had a picky eater at home.
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Post by salem on May 18, 2015 22:47:57 GMT
Usually 2-3 sides. Usually a starch, a veggie and in the warmer months, fruit of some kind.
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Post by nepean on May 18, 2015 22:50:50 GMT
I typically do one starch only. Mashed potato or mac n cheese, or corn, or pasta, or rice. Then I make 2-3 steamed vegetables, or a large salad.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 20:50:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 22:51:24 GMT
Honestly, it depends on what we have in the house grocery-wise. During the summer, when fresh vegetables are more plentiful, we have lots more veggies-so four would be completely normal-but with less starchy sides. We have lots of meatless nights where we have 4+ veggies, and maybe cornbread. And lots of make your own salad nights with lots of toppings and fixings laid out.
In the winter, with more soups, stews, casseroles etc. it's usually the main dish plus one side vegetable and often, a side salad added to all that.
We hardly ever do macaroni and cheese as a side, though.
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Post by papersilly on May 18, 2015 22:52:00 GMT
one or two. mostly one.
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Post by scrapmaven on May 18, 2015 22:52:12 GMT
I base dinner on protein, carb, veggie. I do have picky eaters and will sometimes add or delete something from that person's portion. The only time I cook a separate meal is when I make 2 particular dishes that one person really dislikes. Then I'll make a different pasta dish for that person. At this age my kids can fend if they aren't happy.
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Post by coffeetalk on May 18, 2015 22:52:32 GMT
My DH cooks for us and once a weeks roasts carrots, beets, cauliflower, yams, zucchini and red/yellow peppers. We eat a bit of each of these each night with lean protein - fish or chicken.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 20:50:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 22:54:59 GMT
I usually make a protein and two vegetables or a protein, a vegetable and a salad.
You make a lot of dishes for a single meal. That would drive me nuts!
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on May 18, 2015 23:10:13 GMT
I'm trying to remember the last regular weeknight dinner when I made four sides... and I can't do it. That wouldn't be unusual for a dinner party, Sunday lunch, or big holiday meal. But on a regular basis? No.
I'd say your family better appreciate how good they have it -- before you come to your senses and cut back!
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Post by cmpeter on May 18, 2015 23:10:26 GMT
We also do a protein, two veggies or a protein a veggie and a salad. If we have company or a fancier meal I'll add in a starch, but it's not the norm.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 20:50:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 23:10:35 GMT
I usually do a protein, two vegetables (usually one is a salad), and a startch.
Or like tonight, where I made a giant pan of pork fried rice. Everything was mixed in together -- rice, pork, and a bunch of vegetables (onions, green onions, carrots, peas, green beans)
The less pots and pans I use, the better!
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~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,258
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on May 18, 2015 23:12:36 GMT
Really and truly, it just depends on how I feel, lol.
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Post by ~summer~ on May 18, 2015 23:45:39 GMT
2-3
Tonight s steak (unusual for us), pasta, roasted Brussels sprouts and simple green salad.
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Post by myshelly on May 18, 2015 23:47:18 GMT
Maybe 1.
Maybe.
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Post by myshelly on May 18, 2015 23:49:53 GMT
Do they still teach "starch" in the food pyramid?
Just wondering if this is a generational thing as I've never heard anyone use that in reference to meal planning. I only see it here.
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
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Post by Jili on May 18, 2015 23:50:56 GMT
One or two, depending what's on the menu. If two, it would likely be a veggie and a starch. If just one, it's more likely to be just a veggie. Rarely if ever would I make just a starch w/o a veggie to accompany it.
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Post by padresfan619 on May 18, 2015 23:56:38 GMT
I make a salad almost every night to serve along with dinner, unless it doesn't really fit. For example, if we are having tacos, I skip the salad but will make rice and beans.
Saturday was the last night I made dinner at home. I made chicken breasts stuffed with mozzarella cheese, asparagus and bacon. I just served a salad alongside. I would have put out bread too, but I forgot it at the store and didn't have time (or the desire) to make it at home. Dinner is usually my smallest meal of the day.
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Post by moveablefeast on May 18, 2015 23:58:29 GMT
Depends on the day. Tonight it was two sides - one roasted veggie dish and one raw veggie dish. Raw veggies are usually a chopped or green salad. Tonight was just a pile of raw veggies. Tomorrow will be apple, celery, and pickled red onion salad. Cooked veggies are almost always something roasted. Broccoli, green beans, carrots, Brussels sprouts, asparagus are usual contenders. We are eating lower carb so I don't always make a starch with dinner. When I do it is usually in addition to two veggies. If I make a casserole or something with veggies in it already I usually just make a salad. Sometimes salad out of a bag is the only side and my family is expected to just deal
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calgal08
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on May 18, 2015 23:59:55 GMT
I don't consider mac & cheese a side, for us it would be a meal in its own right. We always have a protein (meat/fish/beans/tofu) 1 or 2 veggies and usually a starch. My boys can be somewhat picky, but I always say to them, it's very hard to please everyone; therefore, you might not enjoy dinner tonight, but tomorrow might be something you love while someone else might not be so happy about it. No matter what, every evening meal they have to eat some kind of vegetable. Yeah, I'm a mean Mom
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
Posts: 4,546
Location: North Dakota
Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on May 19, 2015 0:23:53 GMT
I usually do a protein, a starch and a vegetable.
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Post by hop2 on May 19, 2015 0:25:12 GMT
Usually, a protein, 2 veggies (or 1 veggie 1 salad ) and a grain. but some days are different like crock pot meals or casseroles. ETA: I might make extra veggies but not an extra starch. The kids eat way to many starches the rest of the day, I shoot for only one for dinner.
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Post by bc2ca on May 19, 2015 0:33:07 GMT
I almost always put out a plate of raw veggies before dinner. It will have 3-4 veggies on it (red pepper, cucumber, carrots, celery, cauliflower are most common), and is munched on predinner, some might get added to the dinner plate instead of the cooked veg and the plate is always empty by 8 or so. This has been the most successful way to get my kids to eat a ton of veggies.
Dinner is a protein, veggies and/or starch and varies greatly depending on the season. Once daylight savings time hits, the grill is used for 85% of dinners. I don't really count them as separate dishes. One serving platter would have chicken, asparagus, zucchini, peppers, onion & corn on the cob. I might serve a salad instead of the grilled vegetables.
In the winter I like to do a lot of mixed dishes or one pot dinners (chicken stir fry, baked pasta, etc.) or I might make a meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans.
With your example, I wouldn't make mac'n cheese and mashed potatoes for the same meal and I would steam the broccoli and carrots together and consider them to be one side.
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