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Sometimes the hardest part of meal planning is deciding what to serve with the main entree! Whether you need something for a quick weeknight dinner, brunch with friends or hosting a holiday meal, these easy and Healthy Side Dish Recipes are guaranteed to make any meal complete!
Healthy Vegetable Side Dishes
We all need our veggies but we want them to be tasty too! These quick and nutritious vegetable side dishes are guaranteed to please even the pickiest eaters and will be sure to add volume to any kind of meal. Additionally, they help provide fiber which can increase the satiety of the meal and provide gut-friendly benefits!
Healthy Mexican Side Dishes
Taco Tuesday is more than just tacos! These tasty Mexican side dishes are perfect paired with tacos, quesadillas, taquitos, fajitas, salads and more! Plus, they’re a great way to add extra flavor and bulk up your favorite fiesta meal!
Healthy Pasta Side Dishes
Pasta is seriously one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add to any meal! Plus, there are so many creative ways to enjoy it! Try one of these healthy, delicious pasta side dishes that are perfect for lunch, dinner or your next backyard bbq!
Healthy Cold Side Dishes
Need a delicious side dish you can prepare in advance? Try one of these light and flavorful healthy side dish recipes that are perfect for your next get-together or make a big batch for meal prep and leave in the fridge all week!
Healthy Holiday Side Dishes
We all know the star of any holiday meal is the side dishes! These classic side dish recipes are perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or any celebratory meal. The best part? These lightened up recipes still have all the classic taste you know and love and no one will ever guess they’re made just a little bit healthier!
Why are healthy side dishes important?
Healthy side dishes are important because they’re a great way to add extra flavor and nutrients to your meal. Many times side dishes (like rice, potatoes, grains) provide complex carbs to a meal that help provide your body with energy. In addition, many vegetable and carb side dishes provide fiber to your meal which is important to satiety and a healthy gut!
How many side dishes should you have per meal?
This is completely up to you! Sometimes you will need one side dish to compliment your meal or other times you may want 2-3. Especially during holidays, like Thanksgiving, people will prepare multiple side dishes to accompany their main dish to give their guests lots of different options to choose from!
Do you have to have a side dish with your meal?
You don’t have to have a side dish for your meal but it can be a great way to add volume and make it a filling meal! If you are preparing a protein as your main dish like my Balsamic Grilled Chicken or Pesto Salmon, you will probably want to prepare a carb source like a potato or rice to provide a complete and balanced meal!
Can I meal prep these healthy side dish recipes?
Yes! Many of these healthy side dish recipes are great for meal prep. It can be super helpful to prepare 1-2 side dish recipes in the beginning of the week. Then you can easily add them to any meal you cook throughout the week! They can be great for add to a quick lunch or weeknight dinner.
No matter what type of main dish you’re preparing, there’s a healthy side dish for any recipe! Whether it’s lunch on-the-go, a quick weeknight dinner or a brunch with friends, be sure to try one of these Healthy Side Dish recipes the next time you need just the right thing to balance and complete your meal!
