Buttery mashed potatoes, stuffing smothered in gravy, sweet potatoes covered with marshmallows, green beans hidden below crispy fried onions…hello, food coma! Don’t let your guests leave the table feeling stuffed this Thanksgiving. Instead, lighten up your favorite side dishes without losing any of the flavor with these 8 tasty recipes. Enjoy!

A stuffing that doesn’t leave you stuffed

Scottish Oatmeal Stuffing

Stuffing is nearly synonymous with Thanksgiving. A serving of the aptly named side dish with gravy can pack upwards of 500 calories. Ouch! A healthier alternative: This Scottish Oatmeal Stuffing recipe, which uses old-fashioned rolled oats instead of refined white bread (for a boost of fiber) and reduced-sodium chicken broth (to cut calories and fat). Best of all, it requires minimal work; simply toss all ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker. This is a blessing when you have multiple pots and pans to watch.

A colorful mash makeover

Tie Dye Mash

Sure, mashed potatoes taste good, but let’s face it, they’re a little boring to look at. Not with this visually stunning Tie-Dye Mash recipe. It’s as good looking as it is good for you, thanks to the mashed cauliflower, beets and sweet potatoes, which drive down calories and carbs. It will add a colorful flair to your Thanksgiving table.

A tasty way to support sprouts

Pomegranate and Pecan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts may get a bad rap, but they’re loaded with the same healthful nutrients that make broccoli and cauliflower such standouts. And if you roast or satuée them (boiling or steaming releases that notorious sulfur smell), they’re absolutely delicious. Give them a holiday spin by adding pecans and pomegranates, as in this Pomegranate and Pecan Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe. They’re a lower calorie alternative to a creamy green bean casserole.

A simply delicious carrot dish

Maple Roasted Carrots

With so many different dishes that have to be warmed and ready to serve at the same time, it’s nice to have one easy-peasy recipe. That’s where this five-ingredient Maple Roasted Carrots dish comes in. If you can get different colored carrots, go for it—it will look beautiful on your Thanksgiving table.

A veggie-full side dish

Harvest Skillet

Can’t decide which vegetable to serve this Thanksgiving? Why choose?! This Harvest Skillet dish combines Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes (a Thanksgiving staple) and onions. It also incorporates apples and raisins for a hint of sweetness. One serving offers 5 grams of filling fiber!

A better bread basket

Savory Corn Bread Pudding

You may be thinking, with all the tasty sides on the table, why waste calories on bread? It’s worth it for this Savory Corn Bread Pudding, named as such because it’s softer and moister than standard cornbread, but not quite a corn pudding either. Like it spicy? Feel free to add some jalapeno to turn up the heat a bit. It provides the right amount of kick.

A lower calorie alternative to quiche

Roasted Vegetable Strudel with Balsamic Maple Glaze

Love spinach quiche but not all the calories and fat? You’ll no doubt enjoy this Roasted Vegetable Strudel with Balsamic Maple Glaze recipe. It calls for lighter, flaky phyllo dough and brings in a number of fall flavors, including butternut squash, zucchini, cranberries and maple syrup. Don’t be surprised if there aren’t any leftovers!

A seasonal superstar-studded side


Roasted Butternut Squash with Wilted Kale in a Cider-Maple Sauce

What do you get when you combine a handful of seasonal superstars, like butternut squash, pecans, cranberries and maple syrup? You get this fresh and delicious Roasted Butternut Squash with Wilted Kale in a Cider-Maple Sauce side dish. Enjoy it at Thanksgiving or all season long.

8 Slimming Sides for Thanksgiving

Buttery mashed potatoes, stuffing smothered in gravy, sweet potatoes covered with marshmallows, green beans hidden below crispy fried onions…hello, food coma!

Don’t let your guests leave the table feeling stuffed this Thanksgiving. Instead, lighten up your favorite side dishes without losing any of the flavor with these 8 tasty recipes. Enjoy!