Possible Clues:

• Course with good greens?
• Green side dish, and a hint to this grid's eighth-column letter swaps
• Course that offers mixed results?
• Common first course ... or what's literally contained in 17-, 23-, 32-, 44- and 49-Across?
• First course, often
• Light lunch (and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters)
• Dish that's thrown together?
• Side dish with dinner
• Many a first course