Nutritious Thanksgiving Side Dishes | RMHP Blog

By RMHP

Nutritious Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Have a Healthy and Happy Thanksgiving With These Recipes

 

November is here, and that means it’s time to start planning your Thanksgiving dinner.

 

Side dishes are one of the tastiest parts of Turkey Day, so you’ll want to pack your table with plenty of healthy choices for everyone to dig into. Don’t be afraid to get creative, either — there are so many unique recipes that might just become new family favorites. Give these four nutritious and delicious Thanksgiving side dishes a try, but be sure to have the recipes handy (your guests are bound to want them!).

 

1. Roasted Butternut Squash

This recipe wins for ease of preparation, nutrition, and the fact that winter squash is in season. It’s a perfect accompaniment to the rest of your Thanksgiving dinner.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 medium butternut squash
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped sage leaves or rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Balsamic vinegar or syrup (optional)

 

Directions:

Pre-heat your oven to 400° Fahrenheit, then cut, peel, and dice the squash into 1 inch pieces (see the link above for a helpful how-to on cutting and dicing). Put the cubed squash into a medium bowl and toss with olive oil, sage, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

 

Place the cubes on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast until tender, approximately 25 minutes or until the cubes are golden and slightly browned at the edges. Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar or syrup before serving if desired.

 

2. Honey Mustard Brussels Sprout Slaw

Try this take on coleslaw and you’ll be hooked. It has shredded Brussels sprouts, toasted almonds, and dried cherries tossed with tangy honey mustard dressing. It’s a great addition to some of the heavier foods often found on the Thanksgiving dinner table.

 

3. Hummus Mashed Potatoes

Hummus takes the place of heavy cream in this recipe, and the result is just as creamy and delicious as the original. You can use store bought hummus, or go the extra mile and make your own.

 

4. Garlic Sweet Potato Mash

Can there ever be enough potatoes at Thanksgiving? This sweet potato recipe is easy to throw together and makes for a great alternative to some of the common sugar-filled sweet potato recipes.

 

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds (4 medium) sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 cup 1% milk
• 2 tablespoons light sour cream
• Salt and fresh cracked ground pepper (to taste)

 

Directions:

Boil the sweet potatoes in a large pot filled with salted water. Once the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander.

 

While the potatoes are boiling, melt the butter and sauté the garlic until lightly golden. Return the sweet potatoes in their pot; add the butter, garlic, milk, and sour cream. Mash until you have a smooth, creamy consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.