nights when I don't feel like cooking, or my daughter volunteers to cook? main dish.
Nights when I've actually cooked and it sort of goes, and the kids will eat it? side.

For children under 5 - main dish
For everyone else - side.

And hey, Mom - adding diced Spam does NOT make it a main dish. Shudder.

Side.

side dish

Always a side. I've never had (or desire to have) macaroni and cheese as my main dish.

Side dish always.

Even if it's the only thing I make for dinner, I acknowledge it isn't actually the main dish.

Side if small portion and served alone.

Main dish if served with veggies or meat in it, or in a large portion.

When it's from a box with fake cheese, it doesn't qualify as food so it is neither side nor main.

If it is actual mac and cheese, real cheese and real ingredients, then it is a main dish. Of course, I am a pescetarian so my vote probably needs an asterisk. ;)

It's a side.

co-sign. My thoughts exactly.

I would have said college age and under, main dish;
out of college, side.

I can remember eating the kind of flavored rice that you make from a packet as a meal when I was in college (you know, like broccoli and cheese rice), and yet clearly today, it would only be suitable as a side, if that.

And, I like Spam. I wouldn't serve it to other people if they came to my house, but when my husband makes spam, egg, and cheese sandwiches on a Saturday for a couch potato brunch, it's pretty perfect.

And I've always thought it was funny that in the south (for example, at Luby's or the like) they will list "vegetables" - and then list macaroni and cheese. NO - it is not a vegetable. :confused:

The answer is........yes.

WHAT???? You can't add browned hamburger and call it a main dish???? But...it says you can....right on the box!!!
(I like Spam too, sliced and dipped in egg, the covered with flour/cornmeal and fried...yummy comfort food :D !)

Main dish (even if it is from a blue box). Shiiiiiiiit add some tuna and you got yourself some bomb-ass casserole!! lol.

Side

Box or not.....SIDE