Everyone knows the point of Thanksgiving is to stuff yourself like the bird on your table. I mean, what’s not to love about a holiday that gives you the carte blanche to pig out? But if you’d like to skip the food coma in front of Home Alone, starting your meal off with a salad can help fill up some space the low-calorie way, so your food baby doesn’t make you nauseated. Here are 10 healthy Thanksgiving salad recipes that are worth the space on your table.
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Harvest Beet Salad
You can’t go wrong with this healthy Thanksgiving salad from Prevention. In each bite, you’ll get a dose of fiber from the beets and sweet pears, potassium from tart pomegranates, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats from the satisfying crunch of walnuts.
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Per serving: 74 cal, 2 g fat (0 g sat), 12 g carbs, 317 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein.
Mike Garten
Pimento-Cheese Green Bean Salad
Pimentos and hot pepper sauce add a bit of antioxidant-laced kick to this fresh green bean salad from Good Housekeeping, while a rich cheddar sauce gives it a homey Thanksgiving feel.
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Per serving: 235 cal, 15 g fat (9 g sat), 17 g carbs, 375 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 10 g protein.
Kathryne Taylor / Cookie and Kate
Roasted Carrots with Farro, Chickpeas & Herbed Crème Fraîche
Farro makes a healthy but still hearty swap for stuffing. Chickpeas bump up the filling protein and fiber in this roasted carrot salad from Cookie & Kate, while crème fraiche and parsley makes for the perfect creamy dressing.
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Per serving: 344 cals, 20 g fat (2 g sat), 35 g carbs, 12 g sugar, 207 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 10 g protein.
Tastes Better From Scratch
Apple Cranberry Fruit Salad
If you stuffed yourself beyond the point of pie, but still need a little somethin’ sweet, make a swap for this fresh fruit salad from Tastes Better from Scratch, with apples, oranges, bananas, and a Thanksgiving cranberry-twist. Top it with marshmallows and whipped cream for an extra-festive feel.
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Per serving: 388 cal, 0 g fat (0 g sat), 100 g carbs, 78 g sugar, 21 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 2 g protein.
Kelly Senyei / Just A Taste
Shredded Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Lemon Dressing
After loading up your plate with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy, this light and tangy kale and Brussels sprout salad from Just a Taste—made with just kale, Brussels sprouts, shaved parmesan, and a tart lemon dressing—will be a welcome palate cleanser.
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Per serving: 325 cal, 24 g fat (4 g sat), 18 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 307 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 12 g protein.
Con Poulos
‘Kaleard’ Greens
This warm, savory kale-and-ham salad from Woman’s Day gets a flavor bump from red onions, smoked ham, and pepperoncini.
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Per serving: 101 cal, 5 g fat (1 g sat), 12 g carbs, 396 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 7 g protein.
Emily Kate Roemer
Autumn Squash Salad
This butternut squash salad from Good Housekeeping makes a hearty addition to your Thanksgiving table, with goat cheese and lemon juice adding a tart kick. Skip the chicken and top with turkey instead, serving with the dressing on the side so you can save the leftovers.
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Per serving: 385 cal, 20 g fat (7 g sat), 28 g carbs, 555 mg sodium, 9 g fiber, 28 g protein.
Kim's Cravings
Roasted Butternut Squash and Orange Cinnamon Vinaigrette Salad
Make butternut squash the new pumpkin this fall: One cup is loaded with 430 mg bloat-beating potassium and 9,500 IUs immune-boosting vitamin A. This Thanksgiving salad recipe from Kim’s Cravings features a tangy-sweet orange cinnamon vinaigrette with a kick of gorgonzola cheese.
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Per serving: 232 cal, 12 g fat (2.5 g sat), 28 g carbs, 10 g sugar, 69 mg sodium, 10 g fiber, 9 g protein.
Mike Garten
‘Succotash’ Kale Salad
Upgrade your grandma’s succotash with edamame, bacon, and kale for a vitamin- and protein-packed side salad.
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Per serving: 145 cals, 8 g fat (2 g sat), 215 mg sodium, 12 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 7 g protein.
Kathryne Taylor / Cookie and Kate
Colorful Beet Salad with Carrot, Quinoa & Spinach
The blend of textures and flavors in this quinoa salad from Cookie & Kate is totally satisfying—mint, mustard, pepitas, raw beets, avocados. It’s also a natural detox to balance out all that gluttony, filled with ingredients that debloat.
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Per serving: 249 cals, 8 g fat (3 g sat), 36 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 314 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 7 g protein.
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