Protein is a major part of meal prep. We’ve gone over cooking chicken in Week 1 and beef in Week 5. Now it is time to add some pizzazz to your meal prep with a delicious side dish! Protein is the powerhouse of the meal, yet the side dish can steal the show. A delicious, healthy side dish made with clean ingredients can keep meals from feeling boring.
During Week 2 of the 12 Week Meal Prep Series we discussed vegetables in general, but it is time to take it up a notch. Use your knowledge from Week 2 and Week 3 to create a side dish that involves vegetables AND whole grains.
An easy way to create a healthy side dish is to combine a whole grain of your choice with a vegetable or two. Quinoa with roasted broccoli & cauliflower would be great. Another option would be brown rice with carrots, peas and sweet corn. Add a dressing, herb seasoning or healthy sauce for even more flavor.
For the base of the side, use a ratio of one part whole grain to two parts vegetables. For example, 1 cup cooked quinoa mixed with 2 cups vegetables (1 cup broccoli and 1 cup cauliflower). Easy peasy!
Some healthy side dish recipes that combine both whole grains and vegetables include Brown Rice with Grilled Vegetables and Italian Pasta Salad.
Creating a healthy side dish can add flavor to your meals so you enjoy eating them! When I take the time to create a healthy side dish, I tend to look forward to eating my healthy meals.
Search cookbooks and food magazines for inspiration, but don’t forget about Pinterest too! Follow me on Pinterest to see what healthy side dish items I’ve come across. Don’t forget to sign up for emails. I’ll be sending out additional meal prep ideas, tips and recipes to help you make some delicious vegetable-based side dishes!
In case you missed the first five weeks of the 12 Week Meal Prep Series then catch up here:
