Healthy Holiday Side Dishes

Ahhh, the holidays are here! Time to sit back, relax, enjoy some family time, open some gifts, eat lot’s of food, and look forward to going on a diet when it’s all over. I can tell you this has been my routine before in years past, has it been for you? Why do we put ourselves through this year after year? It doesn’t have to be this way. Sure eating grandmas buttery mashed potato’s and mom’s fluffy biscuits are great traditions, but what if we focused on filling our dinner tables with healthy holiday side dishes?

Being healthy is about balance, and for some reason when the holidays come around we lose that balance immediately. It doesn’t have to be this way! Start making your own traditions with healthier foods, and you can even give friends and family a chance to try new things! The holidays should be about renewal, rest, connection, and feeding our bodies with foods that will nourish us for the days ahead. So let’s break the connection between holidays and diet’s, and give our bodies what it needs to stay balanced.

Below I brain stormed some of my favorite ideas for healthy holiday side dishes in hopes to inspire your holiday dinner tables this year!

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• Roasted Green Beans with Almonds
• Spinach Salad with fruit
• Quinoa Dish (hot or cold)
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Sautéed Broccoli with garlic and pine nuts
• Roasted or Mashed Cauliflower
• Fruit Salad
• Lentils
• Bean Salad
• Roasted Corn
• Warm Faro Salad
• Mashed Sweet Potato’s
• Kale and Apple Salad
• Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions
• Honey Roasted Carrots
• Pea Soup
• Guacamole and Salsa
• Beet Hummus
• Homemade Whole Grain Bread
• Wild Rice
• Vegetable Soup
• Tabbouleh
• Couscous with lemon and Rosemary
• Kimchi
• Simple Grilled Vegetables
• Roasted Curried Chickpeas
• Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese
• Tomato & Basil with Balsamic
• Quinoa salad stuffed into lettuce cups
• Apples and Goat Cheese
• Sweet Potato Slices with Different Toppings
• Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
• Pickle and Olive Tray
• Raw Veggie Platter with Hummus