Farro Salad with Creamy Artichoke Dressing

Photo: Erin Kunkel

An Italian Main Course That Isn't Pasta
Farro is popular in Italy, and the chewy, barley-like grain is rich in vitamins B and E, as well as magnesium, which can relieve tension and cramps. In this easy dish, its mild flavor and crunchy texture are coated with a luscious dressing made from artichoke hearts, lemon and Parmesan.

Get the recipe: Farro Salad with Creamy Artichoke Dressing
Quinoa

Photo: Andrew Purcell

The Sweet and Savory Salad
You don't have to grill the cherry tomatoes in this quinoa dish, but doing so only takes about two minutes, and the lightly charred orbs add a smoky sweetness to the rest of the salad's components. Quinoa, which has a nut-like flavor, contains all nine essential amino acids, just as animal proteins do (it also provides fiber).

Get the recipe: Quinoa Salad with Grilled Cherry Tomatoes
Amaranth Mango Salad

Photo: Bob's Red Mill

A Dish That Evokes Your Favorite Indian Curry
A main-course salad that tastes fantastic for lunch the next day, this fruity dish pairs amaranth—which is actually a seed—with common Southeast Asian ingredients, including yogurt, curry, ginger, mango, mint and cilantro. The result is tangy, sweet and just a little spicy. (And you'll get a healthy dose of protein, magnesium, iron and dietary fiber.)

Get the recipe: Amaranth Mango Salad
Bulgur Wheat Pilaf

Photo: Shiloh Farms

A Rich Pilaf (With a Secret Step)
Taking an extra two minutes at the beginning of preparing this supersimple pilaf goes a long way toward making the finished dish deeply flavored. You sauté chopped onions in butter or oil until they're transparent, and then add a cup of bulgur—a quick-cooking form of whole wheat—and stir until it's coated. Doing so lightly toasts the grain and makes it taste even nuttier. Then, add water and spices and simmer for 15 minutes.

Get the recipe: Bulgur Wheat Pilaf
Lentils with Chia Seeds

Photo: Jonny Valiant

The Superfood Dinner Dr. Oz's Family Loves
Lisa Oz, Dr. Oz's wife, who has been a vegetarian since age 15, has a ton of family-friendly recipes in her arsenal, and this lentil stew is a perfect example. It gets an added boost from chia seeds (which technically aren't grains but are one of the richest plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids) and deep flavor from cumin, cardamom, garlic, ginger and turmeric. Plus, it doesn't require a lot of prep time. Serve it with brown rice for a filling and healthy meal.

Get the recipe: Lentils with Chia Seeds

Next: Good-for-you desserts that aren't fruit