Planning your Thanksgiving menu? Here are some healthy ideas

Thursday, November 19, 2009 1:00
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Few of us exercise strict dietary control on Thanksgiving Day. Most of us cut ourselves a little slack to enjoy the traditional pleasures of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, pumpkin pie–more or less guilt-free. 

While certain dishes may be non-negotiable at your house, there's usually a bit of flexibility with the side dishes. Here are some truly delicious recipes that will up the nutritional ante of the meal. (If you've been invited to dinner, offer to bring a dish. Take one of these and you're guaranteed to have at least one healthy option.)

Each of these recipes from our sister site Epicurious.com has been analyzed using Nutrition Data's recipe analysis feature, so you can see the full nutritional breakdown of each one and save it to your My Recipes for future reference.

EdamameEdamame Dip with Crudite 
A lot of the damage on Thanksgiving Day happens before you even sit down to dinner. After filling on nuts, chips and dip, and crackers and cheese all afternoon, you're likely to arrive at the dinner table already stuffed! Instead, enjoy crisp crudite with a creamy but low-fat dip.
Click here for the recipe
Click here to view nutritional analysis.

Greenbeans Lemon-Roasted Green Beans with Marcona Almonds
Skip the heavy mushroom soup and fried onion treatment and try this light and elegant green bean dish. You can roast the green beans in the oven along with the turkey. If you can't find Marcona almonds, blanched regular almonds work just as well.
Click here for the recipe
Click here to view nutritional analysis.

CarrotsCarrots and Brussels Sprouts
This just may be the perfect Thanksgiving side dish: seasonal, colorful, delicious, and super-nutritious as well.  The sweetness of the carrots is the perfect complement to the slight astringency of the Brussels sprouts. You can prep the vegetables ahead of time to make things less hectic in the kitchen.
Click here for the recipe
Click here to view nutritional analysis.

5 Minute Slaw
Just what the over-worked cook ordered: a side dish that practically makes itself.  In addition to being low in fat and calories and high in valuable nutrients, a crisp shredded salad is a welcome contrast to the heavier dishes on the menu.
Click here for the recipe
Click here to view nutritional analysis.

From our family to yours, a healthy happy holiday!

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