Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipe

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! That means a change in the weather and some beautiful fall foliage, but it can also mean a change in our appetite and cravings! Of course we want to satisfy our cravings and tap into a lot of the delicious flavors of fall. However, we want to do that without all of the extra sugar, junk, calories, the list goes on… Make your Thanksgiving dinner table even more special with this healthy side dish! It so yummy, delicious, and just fun to make!

Cheesy Garlic Broccoi

Per Serving: Calories: 363 Fats: 20g Protein: 24g Carbs: 28g Fiber: 10g Sugar: 6.7g Ingredients:  Broccoli Cheddar cheese  Garlic  Salt and black pepper Directions: Preheat the oven to 375F. Place your broccoli on a chopping board and cut into similar-sized, small florets. Grate your cheese, add to a bowl, or crumble it with your fingers if you are using blue cheese or mozzarella. Stir the minced garlic, salt, and black pepper into the cheese, and combine well. Place the broccoli florets into a baking dish, spreading out evenly. Scatter the cheese and garlic mixture all over the top of the broccoli, trying to cover as much as you can. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the top of the dish is golden and toasty.

Not a fan of steamed broccoli? Try my Cheesy Garlic Broccoli instead. It’s roasted instead of steamed. This causes the broccoli to caramelize. And caramelization makes your broccoli sweet – instead of bitter. Yay! You’re also adding cheddar cheese and garlic. So, you get an ooey-gooey mess of cheesiness – and “garlickyness.”

White Bean Turkey Chili

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Alright, you're already looking ahead to the holidays. One tip that I always give people for staying healthy at the holidays is to volunteer to bring a healthy food item or a salad, so that you know you can eat something good for you! Also, outside of your holiday meal make sure that you're eating very healthy. Don't let your holiday meals spill over into a weeks worth of food.  One of my favorite salads is listed below! It has great fall flavors, lots of textures, full of nutrients, and it looks pretty too! A great thing about salads is that it's very easy to modify. I love tossing my salad in a little bit of olive oil and lemon juice. It keeps it very fresh and avoid all of the other stuff that goes with bottles of dressing.

Laura's Go-To Holiday Salad

- Kale: De-stemmed and cut into bite sized pieces. - Sweet Potatoes: Peeled, cut into large chunks and roasted in the oven. - Brussel Sprouts: You can thinly slice Brussels sprouts or buy a bag of it already done for you! - Beets: You can purchase these pre-roasted and peeled for convenience - Pecans: A great fall flavor that adds a nice crunch - Feta cheese: Great cheese for salads of all kinds - Quinoa: Adds a touch of protein