Chapter 5: Sensible Sides

Diets will tell you that for a calorie-conscious meal, you should limit yourself to a piece of meat or other protein that’s no more than 3 to 4 ounces in size (some have referred to this as a “card deck”-sized portion), and plainly prepared (meaning little to no fat used in the cooking, no skin, etc.) that you will be instructed to enjoy with a large, preferably “undressed” salad or other “sensible” side.

Well, that’s pretty much what this chapter is all about. Except here, you’re going to find a number of “sides” you can enjoy all on their own. Remember that portion size goes a long way in determining how many calories you take in (see card deck example above). So if you want to enjoy a larger portion of meat or fish, serve yourself less of the “side.”

Here, you’ll find a variety of flavorful foods, some simple, some exotic and more elaborate. So, what can you pair with these sides? The following chart lists some calorie counts for various, plainly prepared, sources of protein.