Bored of the same old options? These delicious side dishes, which have fewer than 250 calories per serving, easily deserve to be front and center.

Whip up a batch of farro for a satisfying whole-grain side dish. (The next day, wrap the leftovers in a whole-wheat tortilla and you've got a tasty lunch.)

Sandra Lee's version of this classic uses pumpkin-pie spice to pump up the flavor.

Add a sweet, nutty flavor to your weeknight carrots. Turnips are an excellent source of folate along with vitamins C and K.

Add some heat to your weekday burger or wrap with these sweet-and-savory chips, which take only 20 minutes to prepare.

Cruciferous vegetables (like kale) may decrease the risk for heart disease. Combined with crunchy almonds, kale makes a kicked-up side that's perfect with almost any main.

Think outside the classic side dish and opt for a warming vegetable ratatouille -- a great sidekick to chicken or fish.

Instead of steaming veggies, let the oven do all the work! Roasting allows the broccoli and cauliflower to caramelize, coaxing out their sweet flavor.

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »