Five Fresh Summer Sides To Compliment Any Dinner

An ideal side dish rounds out a meal and marries the flavors of the food. It doesn't have to be complicated and fussy to accomplish this. Yet many sides are calorie and carbohydrate laden and overload the palate. With a few simple changes you can cook up the lighter side.

Potato salad is a popular summer dish. Potatoes are very nutritious and healthy in moderation. Yet in its traditional form it is not exactly health food. There are several ways to lighten up this side. You could substitute non or lowfat dairy products in the traditional dressing and cut the amount by a third. Generally people tend to use too heavy a hand when dressing this salad. When you first mix it together just add a few tablespoons, mix and refrigerate. Just before serving it will probably seem a little dry because potatoes are like little sponges. Just add a little bit at a time, folding gently, until it seems moist but not overly wet. This will help keep the calories at bay. Another way to make it healthier is to dress it with a light vinaigrette instead of a mayonnaise based sauce. This helps create an interesting new twist on an old favorite and also makes it safer for warm weather picnics and BBQ's. Try a light lemon and herb vinaigrette, or a pesto vinaigrette for a little zing.

Coleslaw is the ultimate side for BBQ, yet it's usually drenched in mayonnaise and sour cream. It can still be cold, creamy, and healthy with a couple of small changes. First I usually salt and pepper my cabbage and grated onion with a little salt, pepper, and lemon juice. While that wilts together I make my dressing. I use 1 part light mayo, 1 part nonfat sour cream, 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1-2 tablespoons of either Splenda or sugar, plus a little extra salt and pepper. I stir half of my mix into the coleslaw and refrigerate. Just before serving if it looks a little dry I stir in some more until it's creamy and moist.