Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Thanksgiving doesn't always have to leave you in a food coma. Although you are surrounded by enormous amounts of food, reach for the healthy Thanksgiving side dishes before you give yourself leigh way on the fun stuff.

Click here for 9 Tips for Enjoying Thanksgiving Without Overindulging slideshow.

Although Thanksgiving is famous for the stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, and rich pumpkin pie, there are other healthy side dishes that are flavorful and won't make you feel weighed down. Start by filling your plate with a delicious vegetable side. This can be anything from roasted vegetables to stuffed vegetables. You can stuff mushrooms or peppers with quinoa and black beans to get extra protein in before you reach for the mashed potatoes.  

To turn your usual side dishes into healthy Thanksgiving side dishes, gravitate away from the original recipe and swap out the ingredients. For your hearty stuffing, use whole-wheat breadcrumbs or rolled oats instead of Italian breadcrumbs. Instead of making your mashed potatoes with butter and whole milk, use Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

Instead of feeling tired after your Thanksgiving dinner, you will be grateful for the delicious meal that was perfectly filling.

The accompanying slideshow is provided by special contributor Natalia Sloam.