How To Make Your Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes Healthier

Charred Green Beans with Harissa and Almonds

The bitter dilemma crops up each and every Thanksgiving holiday: stay true to your healthy eating resolve -- or throw caution and calories to the wind? But guess what: There is a happy medium. And we're going to show you how. We've figured out how to make common Thanksgiving dishes (from green bean casserole to sausage stuffing) a bit less likely to stretch your waistline.

And don't fear, you'll still love every bite.

The Mashed Potatoes
Heavy cream, sticks of butter, even tubs of cream cheese (we've heard rumors!) get whipped into those cholesterol-drowned starch bombs. Mashed potatoes may never vanish from the table -- they're a Thanksgiving classic, after all -- but there are ways to lighten them up (and save you room for a piece of pumpkin pie): 1. Swap out the butter for olive oil and roasted garlic. 2. Bump down from heavy cream to a mix of whole milk and a touch of butter. 3. Add some minced chives, caramelized onions, or mustard for flavor. 4. Skip the cream cheese in favor of Greek yogurt, pepper, and horseradish -- they'll give your potatoes punch. 5. If you're really aiming to go rogue this holiday, mix parsnips in with your potatoes for some healthy fiber.