The holiday season is filled with abundance — family, friends, and food. Indulgence is part of these celebrations, which means we’re often reminded to limit our portions. But what if we didn’t have to be quite so vigilant? In keeping with the holiday spirit, these swaps for healthier Thanksgiving side dishes will allow you to enjoy a festive meal without dampening the mood with meager portions of plain turkey and undressed steamed vegetables.

Greens Don’t Need Cream To Taste Great

Green bean casserole is a staple on countless Thanksgiving tables, and for good reason. The subtle sweetness of the beans, the crunch of fried onions, and smooth tang of cream of mushroom soup mix into a delectable combination. While delicious, it’s also a heavy dish that leaves little room in your stomach for other sides. Instead, try a broccoli-bacon salad that’s not as heavy, but hits all the same marks. Dried cranberries introduce some sweet to the salty and savory bacon, while a creamy dressing of reduced-fat mayonnaise and sour cream replaces mushroom soup, and broccoli maintains the crunch you love.

Sweet Potatoes Are Already Sweet

Side dishes that fit nicely into baking dishes are popular Thanksgiving add-ons. They require less prep and even fewer dishes. One of the most loved dishes in this category is sweet potato casserole or pie. But these recipes often add brown sugar and marshmallows to a vegetable that already tastes sweet. Instead, save yourself some work and try roasting these orange spuds — cut them into wedges, toss them with a capful of oil, bake until tender and season to your liking.

Don’t Stuff Yourself

Stuffing, made with cubes of bread saturated with stock, oil, and add-ons like sausage and apples, is the unsung hero of the Thanksgiving table, but it’s also one of the most likely to cause your buttons to pop off. To avoid the discomfort, try these artichoke and parmesan stuffed mushrooms instead. They’re less likely to fill you to the brim, and offer the same mix of flavors as stuffing.

“Just A Sliver” Of Pie Might Just Leave You Wanting More

If you’ve found yourself replying, “just a sliver,” in response to an offer of pecan or apple pie, you’re not alone. But it’s Thanksgiving! Instead of teasing your tastebuds with a miniature portion of rich, buttery pie, try a carrot cupcake, made healthier with the help of reduced-fat cream cheese and by replacing some of the sugar with applesauce.

Holidays don’t need to be a lesson in self-control. By swapping some of your richer side dishes for healthier options, you can spend less time counting how many forkfuls of casserole you took and more time focused on family and friends
 

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