Let’s face it: the best part of Thanksgiving is the side dishes. Unfortunately, it’s also where most of the calories lurk. With the average Thanksgiving dinner packing over 3,000 calories—more than many people need in an entire day—navigating the feast can be tricky for those focused on health or weight loss.
Hers analyzed 26 top-rated Thanksgiving side dish recipes from Allrecipes.com to identify the healthiest options, considering key nutritional factors like protein, fiber, saturated fat, calories, net carbs and sugar. The results reveal some clear winners, like fiber-packed roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash soup and some calorie-heavy pitfalls, like sweet potato casseroles.
Here’s a breakdown of the 10 healthiest and unhealthiest Thanksgiving side dishes to help you make mindful choices this holiday.
10 healthiest Thanksgiving side dishes
1. Roasted Brussels sprouts
2. Butternut squash soup
3. Awesome sausage, apple, and cranberry stuffing
4. Simple roasted butternut squash
5. Quick yeast rolls
6. Squash casserole
7. Grandma’s green bean casserole (tied)
7. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms (tied)
9. Best green bean casserole (tied)
9. Slow cooker stuffing (tied)
10 unhealthiest Thanksgiving side dishes
1. Candied sweet potatoes
2. Grandmother’s buttermilk cornbread
3. Awesome and easy creamy corn casserole
4. Creamy au gratin potatoes
5. Yummy sweet potato casserole
6. Cream corn like no other
7. Homemade mac and cheese
8. Buttery cooked carrots
9. Bread and celery stuffing
10. Garlic mashed potatoes secret recipe
Thanksgiving Side Dishes Ranked From Healthiest to Unhealthiest
(Recipes can be found here and here.)
1. Roasted Brussels sprouts
2. Butternut squash soup
3. Awesome sausage, apple, and cranberry stuffing
4. Simple roasted butternut squash
5. Quick yeast rolls
6. Squash casserole
7. Grandma’s green bean casserole (tied)
7. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms (tied)
9. Best green bean casserole (tied)
9. Slow cooker stuffing (tied)
11. Winter fruit salad with lemon poppy seed dressing
12. Chef John’s perfect mashed potatoes
13. Cranberry sauce (tied)
13. Sweet dinner rolls (tied)
15. Homesteader cornbread
16. Grandma’s corn pudding
17. Garlic mashed potatoes secret recipe
18. Bread and celery stuffing
19. Buttery cooked carrots
20. Homemade mac and cheese
21. Cream corn like no other
22. Yummy sweet potato casserole
23. Creamy au Gratin potatoes
24. Awesome and easy creamy corn casserole
25. Grandmother’s buttermilk cornbread
26. Candied sweet potatoes
3 Tips to Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner While Prioritizing Your Health
It’s possible to strike a balance between enjoying a celebratory Thanksgiving feast and keeping health goals in check. Here are three tips to help you feel great all day long.
- Start the day with a healthy breakfast: You may be tempted to skip breakfast, but enjoying a well-rounded morning meal could help reduce your appetite later in the day. Breakfast may also help energize you and motivate you to move around throughout the day.
- Enjoy everything in moderation: Consider the nutritional content of each dish on your Thanksgiving plate and adjust your portions thoughtfully. You don’t have to give up candied sweet potatoes or buttermilk cornbread. Instead, consider opting for smaller portions of the unhealthier dishes and fill more of your plate with healthy options.
- Go for an after-dinner walk: Taking a walk right after dinner can help prevent your blood sugar levels from spiking. Plus, walking in general can be an effective, low-impact way to lose or maintain weight.
This story was produced by Hers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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