Diabetic Holiday Sides and Salads

Broccoli casserole is always a popular menu items for holiday meals. This one is slightly high in sodium because of the cheese and the canned cream of mushroom soup, so if you need to cut back on sodium even more, use a low-sodium soup.

Mellow browned garlic and a splash of lemon juice add a punch of low-fat flavor to tender Brussels sprouts.

Just a tiny bit of honey and a sprinkle of nutmeg adds subtle sweetness to these mashed sweet potatoes.

Get the same creaminess–and a lot more flavor–when you blend goat cheese instead of cream cheese into your potatoes.

Perk up fresh green beans with rosemary, green onions, and grated lemon rind, and add crunch by topping with toasted pecans. All of these simple flavors come together perfectly to make an ideal side dish for turkey, beef, or pork.

Recipe: Rosemary Green Beans

Fill the center of a halved squash with a slightly sweetened mixture of raisins and dried cranberries for an impressive side dish that’s not only delicious but also packed with nutrients.

If a cheesy squash casserole is a tradition on your holiday table, this low-fat version won't disappoint. Cook yellow squash and onions together, combine with a low-fat white sauce, then top with reduced-fat cheese and fresh breadcrumbs.

Recipe: Cheesy Squash Casserole

Sometimes the simplest sides are the best. Toss quartered potatoes with seasoned breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, then roast until the potatoes are done and the breadcrumb-cheese coating is golden-brown and crispy.

Recipe: Roasted New Potatoes

Instead of a sugary-sweet, high-fat sweet potato casserole, try these mashed sweet potatoes flavored with curry, cinnamon, cumin and just a tablespoon of brown sugar. A small amount of half-and-half makes them creamy, but they still have only 3.7 grams of fat per serving.

Recipe: Curry-Spiced Sweet Potatoes

This high-fiber pilaf feature white and brown rice plus bulgur. Dried cranberries add a touch of festive color and sweetness while toasted pecans add a nutty flavor to the blend of grains.

Recipe: Pecan White and Brown Rice Pilaf

Congealed fruit salads are a staple on many holiday tables, and this low-sugar version is dressed up with fresh cranberries, crisp celery, and tart Granny Smith apple.

Recipe: Holiday Cranberry Salad

This 5-minute fruit side dish makes a sweet accompaniment for a hearty holiday brunch. Chopped fresh mint is the magic ingredient that adds a refreshing note to the banana and grapefruit.

Recipe: Honey Banana with Grapefruit

Make the most of in-season fresh pears by using them in a green salad tossed with raspberry vinaigrette and topped with crunchy walnuts.

Recipe: Field Salad with Pears and Blue Cheese

Crisp chopped apple adds sweetness to this crisp red and green salad, with apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard adding tanginess. This is a great salad for the fall holidays because both apples and broccoli are in season. For a creamy version of this salad, try Broccoli Salad featuring grapes, raisins, light mayonnaise, and crisp bacon.

Recipe: Broccoli and Apple Salad

Combine tart apples with spinach and toss with a tangy citrus vinaigrette for a versatile salad that’s a good match for any main dish.