Do you always serve 2 sides? (hamburgers, tuna, pancakes, breakfast)

[Naturen]

I usually don't have dessert with meals because I am usually satisfied with dinner. I don't usually keep 'dessert' items in stock and that definitely cuts down on the temptation. I have been known to snack on a carrot or a slice of cheese as an after meal treat. One of my favorite dessert items is yogurt. Besides cheese, yogurt is one of those refrigerated staples.

[theatergypsy]

Life is a lot different when there's no one here but me. When my sons were growing up (five of 'em) we had meat, starch (usually potatoes), and a veg of some kind, with a homemade bread every night. Couldn't fill those guys up. Dessert was never served until after homework, bath, and the room tidied up. Then it was pudding, jello, cake, pie. Or when I was really feeling uncharitable, a bowl of cereal. (Nobody every complained)

Now, it's whatever I feel like - some nights it's cheese and crackers w/a side of Thai chili sauce. Or a bowl of Cheerios. Or soup and grilled cheese. If I do the whole meal, it's usually a chop or a chicken breast with a sweet potato and corn or broccoli. Summertime, there's usually a nice tomato to go with.

We all eat too much.

[Caligula1]

I'm not big into potato's, I do love mostly all vegies..
I love a raw salad or sometimes we just cut up raw peppers, carrots and such..
Always I try to incorporate some sort of frozen or fresh steamed vegie also..

[Bunjee]

Mostly I try to do one-dish meals like pasta with vegetables and a protein. If it's a grilled meat then I do vegetables on the side and don't concern myself much with a starch. I don't feel like complete meals "need" a starch on the side but if there are guests it's conventional so of course I plan one.

No regular accommodation for dessert. I usually have ice cream in the freezer if I want something like that. A fruit juice acts like dessert for me.

[mrs.cool]

Dessert even in moderation is just not good for me. I can gain weight just looking at something with sugar in it. HOWEVER, I do have a piece of sugar free candy after I eat.

[Moonlady]

We've gotten away from the conventional meat and two sides. Most nights, it's meat and one veggie, no starches. Sometimes, if the entree is light, like fish, I might make a salad too. Occasionally we add a sweet potato or beans or corn.

Hedgehog_Mom - I love the idea of making the salad in advance and storing in ziplocks. I'm forever trying to keep salad veggies from going bad. I'd eat more salad if I didbn't have to do all the prep work each night.

[GoldyViolet]

We tend to eat a protien and a veggie. Salad also. Usually it's either protein and salad or protein and veggies. Don't really do the starches anymore. Sometimes we'll do pasta but it's always low carb type. (Dreamfields makes a good one). Dessert is also considered a special occasion. I have no desire to eat dessert ever but I do like to bake once in a while and if we're having dinner guests over I do always provide a dessert.

[Dirt Grinder]

We don't eat a salad often enough, but we do have two - three sides with our protein, usually fresh veggies. Sometimes, when we have one of our "comfort meals," like turkey meatloaf, we'll have mashed potatoes. We only have dessert on rare occasions but we end-up eating the dessert a few hours later. We love breads but try not to have them very often with supper.

We aren't overly health-conscious but we do try to eat certain things in moderation.

[DitsyD]

We always have meat, veggie, starchy side, fresh fruit (most often cubed melon), and dessert (usually a small scoop of ice cream or a cookie). Sometimes there is bread, depending on the entree.

[Sage 80]

I always serve one starch, one or two vegetables, and usually a salad or some raw veggie, like slices of tomatoes, cucumbers, avocadoes, baby carrots.

I couldn't get away with not serving a starch. My husband needs that to fill up.

We have dessert once or twice per week, when I have time to make something--usually on the weekend.