5 Last-Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Sides
Did your Thanksgiving host ask you to bring an appetizer or side dish last minute? Don’t fret. 8fit has 5 healthy options for you.
It’s the day before Thanksgiving and your gracious host has a last-minute request. To be polite you ask, “Is there anything else you need me to bring?” Then, much to your dismay or delight, they respond, “Yes, we could actually use another side dish or appetizer.”
Don’t scramble, 8fit has you covered. Below, find 5 healthy Thanksgiving-friendly sides that are ready in under 10 minutes. The extra bonus? No cooking is required and they contain the perfect balance of macronutrients. The hardest part will be braving the grocery story crowds for the few ingredients you need.
Green Bean Salad with Hazelnuts
Move over green bean casserole, there is a new green bean side dish in town. This salad is light and refreshing, but elevated with the addition of parmesan cheese, hazelnuts and mint.
Green Bean Salad with Hazelnuts
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh green beans (cut in half) (~5 oz)
- ½ onion (medium sized) (~2 oz)
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar/modena vinegar (~⅓ oz)
- ¾ tsp olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 ¼ oz parmesan (grated)
- a tiny bit of salt
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- 2 ¼ cups water
- 1 ½ tsp fresh mint (chopped)
Method
- Put water in a pot and bring it to a boil. In the meantime, peel and thinly slice onion.
- Wash, remove stems, and cut green beans in half.
- Add the green beans to the water and cook for 2 minutes or so, until the beans are just barely cooked through, but still crisp.
- Rinse beans in cold water
- Drain the green beans and put in a bowl.
- Toss with sliced onion, balsamic, parmesan, oil, salt, pepper. T
- op with chopped hazelnuts and mint (optional) and enjoy!
Goat Cheese Stuffed Fig
This fig recipe is simple and elegant. Arrange the figs on your prettiest serving dish and consider adding a drizzle of honey on top to increase the fancy factor.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Fig
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- 10 almonds (~½ oz)
- 1 tbsp fresh mint (chopped)
- 1 ½ oz goat cheese
- 2 fig (~3 ½ oz)
Method
- Slice figs in half.
- Top with goat cheese, crushed almonds, cinnamon, and mint.
Healthy Taco Dip
Instead of sour cream, this dip uses Greek yogurt. It has a similar texture and with the added spices, your friends and family might not notice the different.
Healthy Taco Dip
Ingredients
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ lime (~⅔ oz)
- 3 tbsp Greek yogurt, plain (full-fat) (~2 oz)
- ¼ tsp cumin (dry)
- a tiny bit of salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp chili pepper (dry)
- ½ tomatoes (~1 ¾ oz)
- ¼ lettuce romaine head(s) (~6 oz)
- ½ oz cheddar cheese
- 2 whole grain crackers (no added sugar) (~⅓ oz)
Method
- Wash and chop lettuce. Wash and chop tomato. Shred cheese.
- In a small bowl, combine greek yogurt with seasonings (lime juice, cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, salt, pepper).
- Top with cheese, tomato, and lettuce.
- Serve with crackers and enjoy!
Pea & Prosciutto Salad
Nothing says “party” like prosciutto, right? Dazzle your prosciutto-loving Thanksgiving crowd with this simple side salad.
Pea & Prosciutto Salad
Ingredients
- ⅓ lemon (~⅔ oz)
- ¾ tsp mustard (~⅛ oz)
- ½ cups salad arugula (rocket) (~⅓ oz)
- 1 prosciutto slice(s) (italian ham; preferably organic) (~½ oz)
- 1 tsp olive oil (extra virgin)
- ¾ cups green peas (cooked and drained) (~4 oz)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Method
- Wash salad and add to a bowl.
- Wash and drain peas, add with prosciutto to bowl.
- In a cup, combine olive oil, mustard, lemon juice and pepper. Pour dressing over the ingredients.
Avocado, Tomato & Cheese Skewers
If you’re lucky, you already have all of the ingredients for this healthy Thanksgiving side on hand. If not, at least skewer assembly is quick. Recruit your significant other or kids to help if you’re really in a pinch.
Avocado, Tomato & Cheese Skewers
Ingredients
- ½ avocado (~3 ½ oz)
- 3 oz cherry tomatoes
- 4 oz mozzarella (part skim milk)
- 2 ¾ cups salad arugula (rocket) (~2 oz)
- 1 ½ tsp balsamic vinegar/modena vinegar (~¼ oz)
- a tiny bit of salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp basil (dry)
Method
- Wash tomatoes. Peel and cube avocado. Cube cheese.
- Put a cherry tomato, an avocado cube, and a cheese cube, alternating on the skewer sticks. Repeat in this order, until the stick(s) are full. If you do not have skewers, feel free to eat separately.
- Put arugula on a plate and place skewers on top.
- Drizzle with vinegar and sprinkle salt, pepper, and basil. Enjoy!
