Complex carbohydrates are a good thing.
“Semolina is among the healthiest grain-based products. It has a glycemic load per gram 25% below that of pasta. It has a superior vitamin profile to pasta, containing twice as much riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, and folate, and containing four times as much thiamine and pantothenic acid.” Source
Avoid squishy white carbs (white bread, bagels, donuts, muffins, etc).
We made tons over the summer, with fresh tomatoes, cukes, parsley, mint (very important) pine nuts and a lemon juice vinaigrette. Recipe – can be fiddled with
Here’s a similar recipe (tabbouleh) made with bulgur: You don’t even have to cook the bulgur. Just soak in in very hot water for 30 minutes or so.
Also check out quinoa. also good in tabbouleh.
In the cold weather, I cook some of these grains and throw them into various veggie soups. Cold quinoa with walnuts and dried cranberries (and whatever else strikes your fancy, like diced cukes) makes a very nice side salad with a decent vinaigrette.