It's a main dish when the hubby is in the field or deployed. It's a side when he's at home, although, truthfully, that doesn't happen because we don't tend to eat mac-n-cheese when he's home. We usually stick to a protein and a veggie. And by veggie, I do mean something green. I had to chuckle about the Luby's or Cracker Barrel menus that list mac-n-cheese as a veggie.