Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Thanksgiving is all about family, festivities, and (often fattening) food. While it’s OK to indulge every so often, why not enjoy delicious food that’s also good for you? Not all Thanksgiving dishes need to be loaded with fat and calories. You can prepare mouthwatering and healthy side dishes that are sure to please anyone who eats them. No one will miss the usual heavy fare. Here are some simple side dishes you can whip up for your Thanksgiving guests this year. They will be sure to “gobble” them up!
Cranberry and Beet Salad
That jellied cranberry sauce from a can may taste OK, but it’s so boring. Jazz up your cranberry side dish with the added health benefits of beets for a unique side dish this year. Place the cranberries in a large pot and set to boil. Keep the heat on low and stir occasionally. Once the cranberries pop open and begin to form a sauce, keep on low heat until thickened. Remove from the stovetop and place the mixture in a large mixing bowl. Add a tablespoon of sugar to balance the sour taste of the cranberries and mix throughout. Next, dice up the same amount of canned beets and stir in with the cranberries. For some crunch, mix in a handful of pistachios or chopped walnuts. Garnish with some mint leaves and a squeeze of fresh orange juice. Delicious!
Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples
Everyone loves the warm goodness of sweet potatoes or yams on Thanksgiving. Oftentimes, the dish is topped with sugary marshmallows and is loaded with butter. You can still enjoy a delightful sweet potato dish that’s much better for you. Bake the potatoes in the oven until fork tender. Mash in a large mixing bowl until smooth and add a dash of cream or half and half. Next, fold in diced baked apples (about half the amount as you have potatoes). Add a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon and mix throughout. If you’d like, you can also toss in some raisins for texture. Serve heated and enjoy as a comforting side dish.
Pomegranate and Spinach Salad
Leafy greens always round out a meal and spinach is so good for you. Chop large leaf spinach or use baby spinach for this recipe. In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach with a ½ cup of pomegranate seeds. Dice one large cucumber, a few mushrooms, and chop some fresh basil, and combine with the greens. Dice a fresh orange into the bowl and sprinkle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste. This salad makes for a light accompaniment to a hearty Thanksgiving feast.
Do you make any healthy side dishes for Thanksgiving? We’d love to share them with the AMC family. For more information like this, please visit All My Children.
By: Melissa A. Kay
