Easy way to increase fiber and protein
I have been mixing 1/2 cup rice, 1/4 red lentils 1/4 cup quinoa and 2 cups water in my rice cooker, with a bit of powdered chicken bullion it works well as rice for many dishes. This increases the fiber and the protein without dramatically changing taste.
I buy my quinoa at Costco so that helps with the cost.
You can drop it and just use rice and the lentils. If doing that I would go with 3/4 cup rice and 1/4 cup red lentils.
Red lentils are less noticeable in this blend so it works for faking out family members. I have used other lentils, but I do think they need to be at least soaked a little while prior to cooking
If you increase the red lentils it does become more solid and less rice like. Because the red lentils can become mushy very quickly.
My food pantry tends to give out rice quite often. I have been getting red lentils at Walmart, or the ethnic stores. I tend to TRY to save a bit so I can take advantage of buying in bulk. I am saving for a Costco run for quinoa.
Editing to add..
I use this instead of noodles for several dishes, chicken in a gravy, I do a zucchini, tomato, onion blend, leftover chili, all things I can serve over a bed of rice/or noodles.
A friend is using it to get fiber into her picky kids