5 Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Traditional holiday meals conjure up feelings of home, hearth, family and being stuffed, but you can shake things up this year with these 5 healthy Thanksgiving side dishes. It's not difficult to incorporate a few healthy options on a Thanksgiving table filled with a variety of side dishes.

1. Baked sweet potatoes. Bake a side dish of sweet potatoes for loads of nutrients and natural sweetness. You can still offer candied yams with marshmallows, but you might be surprised by the success of the simpler option as one of your 5 healthy Thanksgiving side dishes.
2. Flavorful green beans. Steam a pound of whole green beans, then toss them with 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle a tiny bit of salt-free seasoning for a little extra flavor.
3. Crunchy pear salad. Mix two tablespoons of any fruit vinegar with two tablespoons of honey and a dash of salt. Dice two or three fresh, firm pears and gently toss with the vinegar mixture. Add one cup of chopped celery, 1/2 cup of chopped nuts and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. You may serve this with lettuce or alone. Either way, it can be one of your 5 healthy Thanksgiving side dishes.
4. Peas and peppers. Steam a bag of frozen green peas with 1/2 cup of diced red bell peppers for approximately three minutes. Toss with 1/2 cup of Italian dressing. Steam in the dressing for another two minutes. The contrasting green from the peas and red from the peppers will make this an attractive and healthy Thanksgiving side dish.
5. Squash and zucchini casserole. Spray a pan with cooking spray. Mix two cups of sliced summer squash with two cups of sliced zucchini and pour into the pan. In a medium mixing bowl, combine one egg with two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. Pour the wet mixture over the squash and zucchini. Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 30 minutes. Sprinkle another 1/2 cup of cheese over the top and return to the oven to brown the cheese.

Serving these 5 healthy Thanksgiving side dishes won't be difficult at all. In fact, your family and friends may prefer the healthier fare because all the dishes are filled with flavor.