{"id":21442,"date":"2021-11-18T09:15:38","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T14:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=21442"},"modified":"2021-11-18T14:52:41","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T19:52:41","slug":"healthy-thanksgiving-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/recipes\/healthy-thanksgiving-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Quick and Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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All holiday celebrations are difficult to navigate when you\u2019re trying to eat healthier, and Thanksgiving is no exception. With mountains of mashed potatoes, tons of turkey, and pies on pies on pies, the average Thanksgiving dinner packs in somewhere between 2,500 and 4,500 calories<\/a>. But don\u2019t fear the festive feast! There are plenty of ways to indulge in the flavors of fall without feeling as stuffed as the bird<\/a> after dinner. (Want to know how much exercise<\/a>\u00a0it takes to burn off<\/a> that pumpkin pie? Consult this infographic<\/a>.)\u00a0When it comes to side dishes,\u00a0you and your guests can feel good about gobbling up these healthier options\u00a0that we\u2019ve rounded up from some of our favorite food bloggers around the web.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 12 Thanksgiving Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work<\/a><\/p>\n

17 Quicker and Healthier Thanksgiving Side Dishes Options<\/h3>\n

1. Melon Mozzarella Prosciutto Skewers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Start off your feast with a light and elegant antipasti that will surely impress. They\u2019ll take you just under half an hour to assemble. At only 78 calories for two skewers, you can have a few without filling up before the main course.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Perry Santanachote \/ <\/i>Life by DailyBurn<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

2. Asparagus and Mushroom Cauliflower Risotto\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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This recipe recreates the creamy texture of traditional risotto while cutting down on calories and carbs, thanks to chopped cauliflower. Bonus: The veggie cooks up quicker than rice so you’ll be out of the kitchen in under 30 minutes. Less prep, same flavor!<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Alexa Schrim \/ Life by DailyBurn<\/a>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0<\/strong>Roasted Butternut Squash<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Packed with antioxidants, dietary fiber and vitamin A, butternut squash is also delightfully low in fat. This simple recipe shows you exactly how to cut up the pear-shaped squash. Drizzle your roasted squash with balsamic vinegar or glaze for crowd-pleasing presentation.<\/p>\n

Recipe: Sally Cameron \/ <\/i>A Food Centric Life<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Green Goddess Dip<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Liven up your vegetable platter with this healthy dip. While most holiday appetizers are mayo-laden calorie bombs, this one gets its creaminess from Greek yogurt. (It ditches the sour cream, too, but you won\u2019t taste the difference!) Just fifteen minutes and it\u2019ll be ready to serve.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by DailyBurn<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

5. Pistachio, Farro and Kale Salad<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The best part about this light and refreshing salad? You can dress it before the big day and the study kale leaves won’t get soggy overnight. Store it in the fridge and you’ll have a side salad in a snap!<\/p>\n

Recipe: Carmen Sturdy \/ Life by DailyBurn<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0<\/strong>Honey Mustard Brussels Sprout Slaw<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Impress your gluten-free<\/a> guests with this tasty dish that can be served as a salad or side dish. Use a food processor to shred the sprouts, and then toss them with an easy honey mustard dressing that requires zero mayo.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Kate \/ <\/i>Cookie and Kate<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Fat-Free Sweet Potato Soup<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Usually silky, smooth soup gets its texture from heavy cream, but this lighter version gets its creaminess from sweet potatoes and Greek yogurt. After roasting the potatoes, all you need to do is blend up the ingredients in a food processor. Don\u2019t forget the parsley and green onion \u2014 both great sources of vitamin C to keep you healthy during cold season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Evan Thomas \/ <\/i>Life by DailyBurn<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

8.\u00a0<\/strong>Farro, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Salad<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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With four times as much fiber as brown rice, farro is an extra-filling way to gobble up some grains. Its roasted, nutty flavor shines in this tasty salad. Bonus: This recipe takes only 15 minutes to make! Prepare it ahead of time and serve at room temperature.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Des \/ <\/i>Life\u2019s Ambrosia<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

9. Parmesan Carrot Fries\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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These tasty baked fries will please kids and grown-ups alike, and the 10-minute recipe is practically foolproof. Each serving packs a healthy dose of beta-caroten and vitamin A, which helps promote healthy skin and vision.<\/p>\n

Recipe: Alexa Schrim \/ Life by DailyBurn<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0<\/strong>Chicken Meatballs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Hidden inside these lean chicken meatballs is a tangy cranberry filling! At only 190 calories and 7.5 grams fat per two meatballs, these are a healthy alternative to fatty, dark meat turkey. Simplify your Thanksgiving prep by making them up to 48 hours in advance.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by DailyBurn<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

11.\u00a0Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Expecting guests that pass on turkey? Make this easy and nutritious vegetable \u201cboat\u201d that can be served as a vegetarian entr\u00e9e. The wild rice stuffing has fewer calories than standard white rice, plus it provides B vitamins and minerals like zinc and magnesium.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Renee Blair \/ <\/i>Life by DailyBurn<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

12.\u00a0<\/strong>Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Step aside, canned cranberry sauce! Vegan, gluten-free, and requiring just five ingredients, this recipe is chock-full of vitamin C-rich cranberries. If you have leftovers (though we doubt it with sauce this tasty!), use it like jam or mix it into your morning oatmeal.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Sonnet \/ <\/i>In Sonnet\u2019s Kitchen<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

13.\u00a0<\/strong>Pumpkin Asiago Rolls<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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If your Thanksgiving dinner isn\u2019t complete without bread to soak up turkey gravy, use healthier whole-wheat flour to make these pumpkin-flavored rolls. Make sure to prepare the dough in advance since it needs to rise in the fridge overnight or all day.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Katherine Huysman \/ <\/i>Country Spoon<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

14.\u00a0<\/strong>Hummus Mashed Potatoes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Soft, fluffy mashed potatoes without the heavy cream? You got it. This genius recipe uses protein-packed hummus, which contains much less fat than sour cream or heavy cream. To make a batch that\u2019s vegan-friendly, substitute olive oil for butter. These spuds certainly won\u2019t be dinner duds!<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Ali \/ <\/i>Gimme Some Oven<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

15.\u00a0Broccoli-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Peanut Sauce<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Put a Thai-inspired spin on your taters this year. Since broccoli is loaded with vitamins B and C and sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and vitamin A, this recipe is way better for you than that sodium-heavy boxed mix of mashed potatoes.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Emily Miller \/ Life by DailyBurn<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

16.\u00a0<\/strong>Butternut Squash Soup<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Start off your feast with a warm, light soup that\u2019s rich in beta-carotene, which keeps the eyes and immune system healthy! This soup has a creamy flavor sans dairy thanks to coconut milk. Use frozen pureed butternut squash if you don\u2019t have time to roast the fresh kind.<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by DailyBurn<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

17.\u00a0<\/strong>Roasted Parmesan Green Beans<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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With canned creamy soup and fried onion topping, most green bean casseroles are high in sodium and fat<\/a>. Try making these roasted green beans as a veggie side instead. Bake them for 15 minutes and serve immediately with grated Parmesan. Rich in manganese, fiber and vitamins K, A and C, these healthier beans can help you stay lean!<\/p>\n

R<\/em>ecipe: Gina \/ Skinnytaste<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Not a Daily Burn member? Sign up at\u00a0dailyburn.com<\/a>\u00a0and start your free 30-day trial today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Originally posted on November 20, 2013. Updated November 22, 2015 and November 18, 2021<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n

All images via Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Skip the food coma by putting these light and healthy Thanksgiving recipes on the menu instead. You’ll feel good about gobbling them up!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":67654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[425,27,4069,9],"tags":[155,171,189,341,381,183],"class_list":["post-21442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dinner","category-healthy","category-home-recipe","category-recipes","tag-dinner","tag-fall","tag-holiday","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2low-carb-diets","tag-thanksgiving"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}