You'll Actually Want to Eat Salad on Thanksgiving With These 30 Healthy Recipes

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 carte blanche to pig out? That doesn’t mean you have to completely go off the rails when it comes to your health goals, though. Enter, tasty Thanksgiving salads to pair with those mashed potatoes.

“Ideally half of your plate [should] be vegetables and the other half [should] be split into carbohydrates like stuffing and protein like turkey,” says Chicago-based dietician Maggie Michalczyc. “But I also think it's important not to stress if it doesn't follow this format exactly because Thanksgiving is just one meal out of the year."

It's important to enjoy the foods you love without guilt. "If nothing else, I would say to make sure you have at least some vegetables, like roasted Brussels sprouts, carrots, or salad on your plate, and pay attention to the portion size of everything overall to ensure you're not overdoing it. After all, there will always be leftovers tomorrow!" says Michalczyc.

But adding more veggies to your plate doesn't mean you have to stick to boring options like steamed kale or a sad Thanksgiving salad. Feel free to go all out with your greens: add flavors from different cuisines (Mexican, Mediterranean, etc.), play with dressings, and spruce things up with fresh herbs, like parsley and cilantro.

And don’t forget seasonality, adds Michalcyzc. “Adding seasonal produce to your side dishes is a great way to infuse more fiber and plant goodness into your Thanksgiving meals. Think butternut squash, pumpkin, apples, cranberries, green beans, and more."

Want to chef up a mix of greens that's so good it really feels like the main entree? Here are 30 healthy Thanksgiving salad recipes that are definitely worth the space on your table.