Are you tired of coming up with ideas on side dishes? I am going to share my easy vegetable side dishes the whole family will enjoy! These dishes are also family friendly, my kids and husband love them. The key to consuming more vegetables is to make them easy to cook, and to have excellent flavor! They are also gluten and dairy free!!
What this post will cover:
- Why do we need to eat vegetables?
- How can you make vegetables taste good?
- What are the best vegetables to eat?
- Should you buy fresh or frozen vegetables?
- My easy vegetable side dishes
Why do we need to eat vegetables?
This may seem like common sense, but lets discuss. Vegetables offer something that meat, dairy, bread, pasta and candy do not provide. They provide antioxidants, polyphenols, minerals, calcium, magnesium, etc. The list goes on and on. The fact is, vegetables provide more nutrients than most other foods. They come in a diverse selection and are a naturally grown item. Meaning, they are not suppose to be GMO or synthetic in any fashion. They need to avoid having pesticides on them, or chemicals that make them dangerous to consume. If you ever need a guide on buying organic or not-organic, this this on the dirty dozen is a great guide to start with!
How can you make vegetables taste good?
One word. Spices. If you have not found a local spice shop in your area, I recommend savory spice. You can buy online. These spices are what I use in my life-changing pot roast recipe. They also offer spices specifically for vegetables. So, if you are sick of formulating spices for your dishes, you must try them out! Other than spices, I recommend a good quality oil or butter. So a Olive Oil or a Pasture Raised Butter like the one from Vital Farms. Just having the good fat course will work wonders on some frozen or fresh vegetables!
What are the best vegetables to eat?
Sadly, most of America eats potatoes and corn, thinking they are making a wise choice. I will say, if you are roasting both of these vegetables and they are non-gmo then you are making a better choice for yourself. However, most people fry them or cover them in cheese and butter. That basically throws all the nutrients out the window I like to recommend eating the rainbow.
When you enter into the store, shop the parameter. You will see all colors like red and yellow bell peppers, green or purple cabbage, pink radishes or purple kale. You will find that the dark the pigmentation the more nutrients a vegetable holds. In fact, seek out those dark leafy greens! That is where all our money should be going. If you do not like their bitter taste (like me!). Mix them into smoothies and you wont taste them!
So, the best vegetables to eat are the ones with color! Skip the white ones and go for purple, red, blue, green, yellow, pink!
Should you buy fresh or frozen vegetables?
I seek out both. Typically, I try to save money by purchasing frozen. But the fresh always taste better. The nutrients are the same so feel free to shop around and try different ones. If you like frozen squash, get it, it will save you a ton!
My easy vegetables side dishes:
- Pan roasted green beans with Italian coppa – this recipe is already on my website so I would be remiss if I did not mention it. Its packed full of flavor and easy to make!
- The best roasted seasoned potatoes – I make these once per week (from the Whole Cook) with a chicken or beef dish. they never fail to be perfectly crispy and delicious!
- Brussel Sprouts – All you need is a bag of shredded sprouts, olive oil, salt, pepper, cranberries, pecans, and a fig balsamic glaze. Roasted or sauté the sprouts with oil, salt and pepper. Toss in the other ingredients once cooked. So easy and fresh!
- Everything Bagel Seasoned Carrots – This is a must try from Dr. Mark Hyman. My kid scarfs these down and I will quote my mom, “these are the best carrots I have ever tasted” I also make these once per week.
- Purple Cabbage and Riced Cauliflower – Two ingredients that were never a part of my kitchen until I got this Chicken Satay Recipe from the Whole Cook. It makes me want to eat cauliflower and cabbage! A must try!
Learn more about fiber in my post on why does everyone hate eating fiber and keep following us on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for more ways to improve your wellbeing. Make sure to share with your friends and family!
