6 Thanksgiving side dishes with a healthy twist

A festive Thanksgiving spread featuring sliced turkey, green beans, cranberry sauce, mini pumpkins, and a pumpkin pie, all arranged on a wooden table.

Thanksgiving is a time to gather and enjoy delicious food, and while turkey often takes center stage, the side dishes play an equally important role. Here are some healthier twists on traditional favorites that you can enjoy this holiday season:

Garlic green beans

green beans
Garlic green beans
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Serving Size About ¾ cup

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Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Sauté together for 5-10 minutes and serve.

Nutrition

(per serving)
  • 76 Calories
  • 5 g Total Fat
  • 1 g Saturated Fat
  • 7 mg Sodium
  • 0 mg Cholesterol
  • 8 g Total Carbs
  • 4 g Fiber
  • 2 g Sugars
  • 2 g Protein
  • 236 mg Potassium

“Candied” sweet potato

Flat lay composition with baked sweet potatoes in dish on wooden background
“Candied” sweet potato
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Serving Size 1 potato

Sweet potato casserole and candied yams typically use cups of sugar plus marshmallows. Try this lightly sweetened sweet potato this year instead.

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Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Top sweet potatoes with honey and cinnamon.

Nutrition

(per serving)
  • 180 Calories
  • 0 g Total Fat
  • 0 g Saturated Fat
  • 11 mg Sodium
  • 0 mg Cholesterol
  • 44 g Total Carbs
  • 6 g Fiber
  • 6 g Sugars
  • 2 g Protein
  • 917 mg Potassium

Whole grain stuffing

A bakilng dish of cornbread stuffing iwth celery and turkey bits
Whole grain stuffing
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Serving Size 2/3 cup

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Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
  3. Sauté vegetables, mix with bread, add broth, and bake.
  4. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
  5. Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Sauté vegetables for 10 minutes, or until tender. Remove pan from heat.
  6. Add parsley, sage, pepper and salt and stir.
  7. Add vegetable mixture to bowl with bread and toss to combine.
  8. In another bowl, add broth, butter and eggs and whisk. Drizzle over bread cubes and toss. Let sit for 10 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
  9. Add bread cubes to a baking dish coated with cooking spray.
  10. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, or until browned.

Nutrition

(per serving)
  • 210 Calories
  • 9 g Total Fat
  • 3 g Saturated Fat
  • 508 mg Sodium
  • 46 mg Cholesterol
  • 22 g Total Carbs
  • 4 g Fiber
  • 3 g Sugars
  • 10 g Protein
  • 222 mg Potassium

Arugula salad with fig & goat cheese

Plate of arugula salad with figs, white beans, and crumbled cheese on a textured surface.
Arugula salad with fig & goat cheese
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Serving Size 3 cups

Many of us eat extra light the day of Thanksgiving so we can indulge in the big meal. But coming to the table hungry can lead to overeating, which can take away from the pleasure you enjoyed during the meal. Starting with a small salad can help keep you from feeling that way. You’ll be able to enjoy your meal without leaving the table feeling stuffed.

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Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Toss all ingredients and serve.

Nutrition

(per serving)
  • 262 Calories
  • 10 g Total Fat
  • 4 g Saturated Fat
  • 67 mg Sodium
  • 15 mg Cholesterol
  • 35 g Total Carbs
  • 7 g Fiber
  • 20 g Sugars
  • 11 g Protein
  • 691 mg Potassium

Harvest soup

Cup of orange soup in a bowl on a wooden table with burlap coasters and a spoon.
Harvest soup
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 serving

Follow your salad with a healthy cup of butternut squash or lentil soup.

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Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Heat butternut squash or lentil soup.

Nutrition

(per serving)
  • 153 Calories
  • 4 g Total Fat
  • 0 g Saturated Fat
  • 436 mg Sodium
  • 0 mg Cholesterol
  • 30 g Total Carbs
  • 3 g Fiber
  • 6 g Sugars
  • 3 g Protein
  • 11 mg Potassium

Mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes with peppers in blue bowl on blue concrete background. Top view or flat lay. Copy space.
Mashed potatoes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Serving Size About 2/3 cup

These mashed potatoes swap butter for olive oil and are dairy-free. Using less of the olive oil also helps keep the calorie and fat content down.

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Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Place potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water.
  2. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes, or until very tender; drain.
  3. Cool, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
  4. Return potatoes to the pan, adding olive oil, ¾ tsp salt, and pepper; mash to desired consistency.
  5. Keep warm.

Nutrition

(per serving)
  • 162 Calories
  • 7 g Total Fat
  • 1 g Saturated Fat
  • 388 mg Sodium
  • 0 mg Cholesterol
  • 27 g Total Carbs
  • 3 g Fiber
  • 3 g Sugars
  • 4 g Protein
  • 394 mg Potassium
In this article:
Thanksgiving

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This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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