6 Ways to Wake Up Weeknight Veggies

Weeknight veggies can be exciting and tasty - plus quick and easy; no boring sides allowed. We're going way beyond steamed broccoli today...

"We need some new ideas for vegetable side dishes. It seems I'm always serving steamed broccoli or salad; and my kids only eat salad if I add croutons and bacon," lamented a friend recently.

I get her dialema. Weeknight veggies have to be quick and easily adaptable to a variety of main dishes. They should also be kid- (or husband-) friendly. Here are my favorite ways to wake up the weeknight veggie routine:

1. Beans count. They count as both a veggie and a protein. No recipe needed. Just add a can of drained, rinsed beans to almost any salad, pasta or mixed dish. Or cook up a big batch of beans on the stove or in the slow-cooker; freeze in meal-ready portions.

2. Serve soup. For anyone with veggie-phobia, this is a favorite. Puree any vegetable-laden soup into a creamy concoction and offending veggies just 'disappear.' Don't forget soup-toppers to add sparkle - like Deanna's Frazzled Onions on this Carrot Soup or my Sweet Potato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons.

3. Consider the casserole. Spaghetti squash is casserole-friendly because it can replace pasta in any baked noodle dish. Or check out this Cozy Casserole Round-Up.

4. Rediscover cabbage. Even this dietitian gets sick of salad - but I never tire of cabbage. And neither do my kids. The trick to appreciating this under-appreciated veggie (Prediction: It's the next cauliflower!) is: Always add a bit of sweetness.

• Winter: Roast in the oven until caramelized; or sauteed with butter and apples
• Summer: Make simple slaws with maple syrup vinaigrette; or coleslaw with Praline Bacon.
• Fall salads: Toss in dried cranberries + nuts; or make an Asian dressing with sugar, lime and fish sauce/Worcestershire sauce.
• Spring: Buy 2 heads; it's on sale for St. Patricks Day. Then check out 7 Ways to Enjoy Leftover Cabbage.

5. Work backwards.

When meal planning, instead of starting with the main dish, start with a seasonal veggie - like asparagus. Pick up what's on sale in the produce department and search (right there on your phone) for a main dish incorporating that veggie.

6. Pasta or Rice + veggies = A meal. 

Rice or pasta is the perfect template for a meal. Use whatever leftover veggies + proteins you have. One of the most popular veggie pasta dishes on our site is: Butternut Squash Fettuccine Alfredo

Would you try any of these weeknight veggie ideas? How do you get beyond steamed broccoli?