3 Thanksgiving Side Dishes that Fit Your Macro Goals
Introduction
Thanksgiving is a feast filled with indulgent dishes, but sticking to your nutrition plan doesn’t have to mean missing out! These 3 Thanksgiving side dishes that fit your macro goals deliver the festive flavors you love while keeping carbs, proteins, and fats in balance. Each recipe is crafted to complement your main course and help you enjoy the holiday—guilt-free and energized.
Balanced Sides for Strength and Satisfaction
These side dishes stand out for their flavorful ingredient combinations and macro-friendly portions. Enjoy creamy mashed cauliflower for lower carbs, a high-protein green bean almondine, and a smartly portioned quinoa cranberry stuffing. Each dish brings out a different flavor profile, keeping your meal satisfying and aligned with your health goals.
Meal Prep and Efficiency for Thanksgiving Day
Planning for the holidays can feel overwhelming, so these recipes are designed for easy meal prep and quick assembly. Each can be made ahead and reheated, ensuring your Thanksgiving is delicious and stress-free.
Serving Suggestions for a Nutritious Thanksgiving Spread
Pair these macro-friendly side dishes with your favorite lean proteins such as turkey breast or roasted chicken. Add a simple green salad dressed with olive oil and vinegar for a well-rounded, festive plate. Together, these sides help balance the richness of the holiday meal while providing a satisfying variety of textures and flavors.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
Each recipe yields 4 servings, designed to balance macros in a typical holiday meal. You can easily adjust portion sizes to match your specific macronutrient targets.
- Mashed Cauliflower: ~70 calories, 5g protein, 10g carbs, 2g fat per serving
- Green Bean Almondine: ~110 calories, 4g protein, 8g carbs, 7g fat per serving
- Quinoa Cranberry Stuffing: ~180 calories, 6g protein, 30g carbs, 5g fat per serving
3 Thanksgiving Side Dishes that Fit Your Macro Goals (Recap)
These sides blend the best of tradition and nutrition, proving you can enjoy the feast and keep your fitness goals intact. Their familiar flavors, balanced macros, and make-ahead convenience make them a standout choice for your holiday table.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically create a categorized shopping list for all ingredients—making your Thanksgiving shopping faster, more organized, and perfectly portioned for your goals!
Instructions
- Mashed Cauliflower
1. Steam cauliflower florets until fork-tender, about 10–12 minutes.
2. Drain and transfer to a food processor. Add Greek yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm. - Green Bean Almondine
1. Blanch green beans in boiling water for 3–4 minutes, then plunge into ice water to keep their color.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil or light butter over medium heat. Sauté shallots until fragrant.
3. Add almonds and cook until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes.
4. Stir in green beans. Toss well, season, and heat through. Serve immediately. - Quinoa Cranberry Stuffing
1. In a pot, heat olive oil and sauté onion and celery for 3–4 minutes until soft.
2. Add rinsed quinoa and broth. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Stir in cranberries and walnuts, and cook for 2–3 more minutes. Add parsley, salt, and pepper.
4. Fluff with a fork and serve warm or at room temperature.
Weekly Meal Planning
These macro-friendly Thanksgiving side dishes are great for prepping ahead so you can enjoy the holiday with less stress. Save and schedule these recipes to generate precise shopping lists and efficiently plan your entire Thanksgiving menu—streamlining every step from shopping to plating.
Planning Benefits:
- Automatically totals ingredient quantities across all recipes in your plan
- Sorts grocery lists by store section for efficient shopping
- Reduces overbuying and forgotten ingredients
- Makes weekly and holiday meal prep smarter and simpler
Pro tip: When preparing multiple recipes for Thanksgiving, schedule your dishes and let CookifyAI optimize ingredient amounts, saving you time and waste!
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes (for all three sides, when cooked together)
