So, you want to want to eat more plants, but what you really, truly want is a big bowl of pasta, drenched in butter? Totally get it. Sometimes the trick is just to balance the proportion of green to starch – make a vegetable-laden risotto, for example. Or make a small dish of starch to satisfy that craving, and make a bigger dish of salad that has lots of flavors (and maybe a creamy, avocado-based dressing?).

Love to Cook: It sounds weird, but it’s delicious: Dave T’s Spinach Cake- David Lebovitz.

Weeknight Reality: Almost every good salad ingredient is available pre-cut, pre-washed, and ready to dump in a bowl. If you need help selecting the particular items, take a peek at Mark Bittman’s 101 Salad Suggestions. The varieties are almost endless, and all good, and all super fast.

Need a Miracle: Tabbouli, from the store, served on a bed of greens, topped with an egg.