Simple dishes offer healthier options for your Thanksgiving sides

The turkey may be masterpiece on your Thanksgiving table, but don’t forget about the sides.

Complete your dinner spread with healthy side dishes to complete the meal. Serve a salad as a first course and select an eye-catching and interesting vegetable recipe that packs plenty of flavor without the calories of green bean casserole.

You'll wow friends and family with these simple sides that will be a guaranteed hit.

Orange-Tarragon Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

With a vibrant citrus dressing and fresh-cut vegetables, this is not only a Thanksgiving side but a recipe you will come back to again and again.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Combine butternut squash, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, and potatoes in a large bowl. Add orange juice mixture to vegetables and toss to coat.

Spread vegetable mixture in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake for 35 minutes or until browned and tender, stirring gently with a spatula after 25 minutes.

Remove pan from oven. Sprinkle vegetables with orange zest strips, 1 tablespoon orange juice and 1 teaspoon tarragon. Toss and serve.

Pumpkin Soup

In a large saucepan, heat 1/4 cup water over medium heat. Add 1 small onion, chopped, and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup water, 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz.), 1 cups unsalted vegetable broth, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup fat-free milk and cook until hot. Don't boil.

Ladle soup into warmed bowls and garnish with black pepper and green onion tops. Serve immediately.

Whether you’re hosting or bringing a dish to share, cook with fresh ingredients and consider simple substitutions to make side dishes more filling and nutritious.

Recipes adapted from Cooking Light

Source: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/life/holiday/2017/11/02/thanksgiving-meal-delivery-louisville/806407001/