Healthy Holiday Side Dishes that will Steal the Show at the Potluck
Holiday food is amazing. Gaining weight from holiday food is not. Since it’s the season to indulge, diets and other healthy eating habits tend to fly right out the window. I mean, how can you say no to truffle mac and cheese, or twice baked potatoes? But making a few healthy switches can really help you out in the long run.
At a potluck, there is no changing what the main dish will be…and it’d be rude to not have some deep-fried turkey or honey-glazed ham. But with your healthy side dishes, you can have peace of mind that you’re making better decisions while still pleasing your (and everyone else’s) taste buds. And with the side dishes we picked, they’ll probably steal the show at the potluck. So, you might want to apologize to the hostess now….
Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto
via Jans Sushi Bar
If you’ve never made risotto before, brace yourself. There’s quite a bit of stirring that you’ll need to do but, girl. It will be completely worth it. It’s creamy, a little salty, and the butternut squash gives it bites of nutty sweetness. This dish is perfect for any wintery-holiday potluck. Get the recipe here.
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce
via Dishing Delish
Thank God for baked fries because you can have a healthier (and less messy) fry option without any guilt. These fries are sweet, salty, smoky, and satisfyingly crispy. And the zesty garlic aioli is the perfect cherry on top, or well…sauce on top. Be sure you make enough though, because these fries will not last long. Get the recipe here.
Herbed Couscous
via My Recipes
This dish is so simple, but so delicious. Couscous is an amazing little pasta. One cup of it is only 176 calories, which is less than rice and far less than mac and cheese. Combining it with herbs like parsley, chives, rosemary, and thyme, you won’t even miss the mac and cheese. Get the recipe here.
Skillet Squash Blossom
via Southern Living
This dish is not only tasty looking with its caramelized edges, but it’s just a stunning dish, period. While it doesn’t look it, this dish is simple to make, so you’ll be looking like a rock star when you set it down on the table. If you want to make it vegetarian friendly, simply omit the crumbled bacon. Get the recipe here.
Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce
We covered salty side dishes…but what about a sweet one? Three words: crockpot. Cinnamon. Applesauce. This one takes the most time to make, but you just let it sit and do its thing and you only need four simple ingredients. You can’t go wrong. Also, who doesn’t want to roll up to the potluck and blow everyone away by saying that they made homemade applesauce? They don’t need to know how easy it is! Get the recipe here.
So, babes, go forth and steal the show with these healthy side dishes. And let me know which dish is your favorite!
cover image via All Recipes