MyPlate-Inspired Starchy Side Dishes

Photo: Oxmoor House

Nutritious Starchy Side Dishes

Cooking Light is working with the Partnership for a Healthier America and USDA’s MyPlate to give anyone looking for healthier options access to thousands of recipes that will help them create healthy, tasty plates. For more information about creating a healthy plate, visit www.choosemyplate.gov. Find recipes at http://pinterest.com/MyPlateRecipes/.

Starchy vegetables include potatoes, corn, and peas, while whole grains include brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat pastas.

First up is our recipe for Classic Mashed Potatoes. These creamy, fluffy, kid-friendly mashed potatoes get their texture from butter, milk, and a touch of sour cream. If you're looking to try something just a little different, replace a few potatoes with celeriac (also known as celery root). Most kids love the sweet flavor, and celeriac is full of vitamins.

View Recipe: Classic Mashed Potatoes

Photo: Levi Brown

Brown Rice with Sesame

Lime adds a pleasant splash of tartness to this quick side dish of brown rice.

View Recipe: Brown Rice with Sesame

Photo: John Autry

Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

Made with peppery arugula, kalamata olives, fresh herbs, and lemon, this potato salad will stand out among the other side dishes at your next gathering.

View Recipe: Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry

Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

The perfect side-dish companion to a variety of meat-based main dishes, including fish, chicken, and steak, this quinoa recipe is simple and delicious.

View Recipe: Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

Photo: Randy Mayor

Fresh Corn Salad

Fresh, sweet summer corn requires no cooking, which makes this corn salad a particularly appealing warm-weather side dish for grilled fish, poultry, or meat.

View Recipe: Fresh Corn Salad

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Microwave Sweet Potato Chips

You won't want to miss these sweet potato chips. You'll need a mandoline to slice the potato thin enough to crisp. The results are delicious and easy, sans the hassle of the oven.

View Recipe: Microwave Sweet Potato Chips

Photo: Charles Masters

Smoked Potato Salad

The mesquite wood chips bring a strong smoky flavor to the potatoes, but the vinaigrette balances it out, especially when the kalamata olives are added to the mixture. To bring more heat to the potato salad, you can add cayenne or red chili flakes.

View Recipe: Smoked Potato Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Quinoa, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Chive-Infused Oil

Brightly colored flavored oil coats the quinoa grains and lends the salad fresh chive flavor. Refrigerate leftover oil to use as a dressing to drizzle over grilled fish or summer vegetables. Garnish with whole fresh chives, if desired.

View Recipe: Quinoa, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Chive-Infused Oil

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Rosemary Potatoes

These rosemary potatoes taste as if they were roasted in the oven–but take only half the time making them a versatile and easy side dish.

View Recipe: Rosemary Potatoes

Photo: John Autry

Creamy Potato Salad

Light mayonnaise and nonfat Greek yogurt add creaminess without excess fat to this fingerling potato salad.

View Recipe: Creamy Potato Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges

These peppery-sweet potatoes are delicious with roasted meats. Cooking them at a high heat makes their interior tender just as the sugar-and-spice coating begins to caramelize and brown the outside.

View Recipe: Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges

Photo: Johnny Autry

Wild Rice and Carrots

If you can't find precooked wild rice, substitute boil-in-bag or precooked brown rice.

View Recipe: Wild Rice and Carrots

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

If you want to make this potato salad ahead, prepare the recipe through step two. Once the potato mixture is completely cooled, cover and refrigerate. Toss with fresh arugula just before serving so the greens don't wilt or get bruised.

View Recipe: Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

Photo: Charles Masters

Roasted Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes

These roasted fingerling potatoes are perfect for a weeknight meal with company: quick and convenient, but still dressy. Bake the potatoes in their jackets so the outsides get nice and browned while the buttery interiors gently cook through.

View Recipe: Roasted Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes

Photo: Randy Mayor

Garlic-Lime Grilled Corn

A garlic and lime sauce adds delicious flavor to grilled corn, making for a perfect barbecue side.

View Recipe: Garlic-Lime Grilled Corn

MyPlate-Inspired Sides: Starchy Veggies and Whole Grains

Nutritious Starchy Side Dishes

Brown Rice with Sesame

Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

Fresh Corn Salad

Microwave Sweet Potato Chips

Smoked Potato Salad

Quinoa, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Chive-Infused Oil

Rosemary Potatoes

Creamy Potato Salad

Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges

Wild Rice and Carrots

Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

Roasted Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes

Garlic-Lime Grilled Corn