Quick Tricks to Make Your Thanksgiving Sides at Least a Little Better for You

By Chelsea Duff Updated: November 20, 2019

When it comes to Thanksgiving, eating healthy is the last thing we want to worry about — especially when we get to cram our plates full of all our favorite sides at once. Mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, delicious buttery biscuits, even edible centerpieces — we need each and every one of them. Sorry, but roasted cauliflower and steamed broccoli just aren’t going to cut it this year (or, if we’re being totally honest, any year). At the same time, though, we also aren’t looking to send ourselves into a butter-and-sugar-induced coma that will outlast any effects of tryptophan we could hope to blame it on.

Luckily, we’ve done a little research into how to have the best Thanksgiving and found some quick and easy ways to make healthy Thanksgiving sides to replace those unhealthy traditional Thanksgiving sides. You don’t have to miss out on mac and cheese just because you’ve managed to stick to your New Year’s resolution this long. (OK, it’s the tiniest little fragment of your New Year’s resolution, which was just to try a little bit harder than last year to actually take care of your body — but hey, it’s November, don’t you want to finish out the year?) We’ve got the Thanksgiving hacks you need for this year’s feast, especially if you’re hosting for the first time.

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Check out our simple tips and tricks to make the best Thanksgiving recipes that are healthy in the gallery below.

pHealthy Mashed Potatoes

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Healthy Mashed Potatoes

Let's be honest: Thanksgiving is really just all about gorging yourself on mashed potatoes. But it turns out that you don't need tons of butter and cream to make this meal as fluffy and flavorful as you like. Instead, start by using Yukon Gold potatoes for your base. They're naturally a little more buttery in flavor, so they'll work best. Then, add in skim milk for creaminess and chicken broth for flavor. Roasted garlic can also add a richness to your dish without adding tons of calories or fat.

Get the full recipe from Ahead of Thyme.
Healthy Cornbread

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Healthy Cornbread

You don't need lots of oil and sugar to make your cornbread tasty this year. Instead, just use a small amount of butter mixed with some Greek yogurt to keep this side moist while also adding extra protein. A hint of honey instead of sugar will keep things sweet.

Get the full recipe from Amy's Healthy Baking.
Healthy Cranberry Sauce

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Healthy Cranberry Sauce

Instead of loading in a cup of sugar to balance out the bitterness of the cranberries, use maple syrup or honey for sweetness instead. It'll keep your sauce naturally tasty and not too tart — and adding in a little citrus can help brighten it, too.

Get the full recipe from Cookie + Kate.
Healthy Biscuits Recipe

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Healthy Biscuits

Instead of loading up your bread bites with butter and milk, try non-fat yogurt to get that same moist, yummy texture. With no butter, these biscuits with be a little fluffier than flaky, but adding just a small amount of butter back in can get you to the consistency you like. Using fat-free buttermilk instead of cream can also elevate your dish.

Get the full recipe from 101 Cooking For Two.
Healthy Green Bean Casserole

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Healthy Green Bean Casserole

Instead of buying the canned onion topping, crisp some up yourself with Panko bread crumbs. When it comes to making the sauce, use nonfat milk and chicken broth instead of heavy cream. Making a roux can keep your sauce thick without needing to buy a can of soup from the store.

Get the recipe from Gimme Some Oven.
Healthy Stuffing Recipe

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Healthy Stuffing

The combo of bread and meat and butter can prove to be pretty fattening when you're making stuffing. Turkey or chicken sausage instead of pork or beef can reduce the fat content, and if you add a little oil and the drippings from your sausages, you don't need nearly as much butter. You can also swap out whole grain bread and rice for what you usually use. If you want a meat-free side dish recipe, we recommend checking out vegetarian Stovetop stuffing.

Get the full recipe from Skinny Taste.
Apple Cranbery Almond Coleslaw Thanksgiving Slaw

Courtesy of Cooking Classy

Healthy Thanksgiving Slaw

We love to indulge as much as the next woman, but sometimes we just need a crunchy, tangy bite on Thanksgiving. Fortunately, this Apple, Cranberry, and Almond Coleslaw recipe packs the perfect mix of acidic and sweet. We're already calling it out favorite low-carb stuffing alternative. Even this pickiest eater will fall in love with this healthy side dish.

Get the full recipe from Cooking Classy.
Healthy Brussels Sprouts Thanksgiving Side

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Healthy Thanksgiving Brussels Sprouts

When it comes to Thanksgiving vegetable recipes, boring is the last word you'd use to describe these Brussels sprouts. Adding superfood apple cider vinegar plus crunchy gut-boosting walnuts makes this one of the healthiest Thanksgiving vegetable side dishes you'll eat this season. As if this low-calorie side dish had already maxed out its health benefits, add some honey, which is known for its antibacterial properties, and you've got yourself a unique thanksgiving recipe that will truly heal you from the inside out.

Get the full recipe here.
Healthy Fried Cauliflower Fritters Thanksgiving Side

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Healthy Fried Cauliflower

Mashed potatoes are obviously one of the most popular vegetables dishes for Thanksgiving, but cauliflower makes a strong case for being crowned most versatile veggie. Use it as a meat replacement for homemade buffalo wings, and you've got yourself a creative thanksgiving recipe the whole family will love — especially vegetarians on Thanksgiving who are usully left scrounge for meat-free dishes. And despite being breaded and fried, this recipe is a light side dishes you'll have no trouble finishing in one sitting.

Get the full recipe here.
Healthy Mac And Cheese

Women's World Weekly

Healthy Vegan Mac and Cheese

There's a reason mac and cheese is a comfort food: You can't help but feel content the moment that ooey-gooey, cheesy goodness meets your mouth. Sadly, people with dairy intolerances or those who maintain a vegan lifestyle don't usually get to partake in this treasured dish — until now. Our Vegan Mac and Cheese is a creamy, dreamy make ahead thanksgiving side (no dairy means it can sit in the fridge longer) is the perfect addition to any alternative Thanksgiving meal. Even dairy lovers will agree that this healthy side dish deserves a front-row spot at any Thanksgiving spread.

Get the full recipe here.
Healthy Pumpkin Pie

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Healthy Pumpkin Pie

If you're planning a Turkey Day with friends, chances are you've been searching the internet for yummy Thanksgiving potluck ideas. The trick with potlucks if you never know how much other people are going to bring — or if they're going to like your food. Instead of trapping yourself in the kitchen for hours trying to make a healthy pumpkin pie from scratch, why not try our No-Bake Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pies? This lighter Thanksgiving dessert can be made ahead of time and it's free of refined sugars, so you can feel good about every bite. The best part about this easy Friendsgiving recipe is that the pies are single-serve, which means you don't have to share with anyone.

Get the full recipe here.

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