Travel Nurses — Eat Your (Healthy!) Hearts Out

We Present the Best Part of Thanksgiving — Lightened up!

Turkey is great, but let’s be honest — sides are the unsung heroes of Thanksgiving dinner. Our amazing travel nurses are scattered far and wide this holiday, and we know it can be tough to plan elaborate dinners or think up new, healthy options when you’re always on the road. So, we curated a few healthier options for you to enjoy. Here are a few recipes you can easily whip up for your friends and family:

1. Sweet and Smoky Roasted Carrots

Food52 / via food52.com

These are packed with flavor and there’s a good chance that even our travel nurses, who often pack light, will have most of these ingredients on hand. By the end of dinner, family members will be fighting over who gets the last bite!

2. Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato, Dried Cherries, Feta and Pepitas

Skinnytaste / via skinnytaste.com

Salad on Thanksgiving? Why not if it contains delicious ingredients like sweet potato, dried cherries, feta and pepitas?!

3. Blistered Green Beans with Tomato-Almond Pesto

Bon Appetit / via bonappetit.com

Green bean casserole is so been there, done that. Try a new twist on an old favorite and lighten things up with this alternative!

4. Pumpkin Swirled Mashed Potatoes

Heartbeet Kitchen / via heartbeetkitchen.com

Jazz up your classic mash potato recipe by adding pumpkin! This recipe screams fall, and the fresh herbs add delicious flavor.

5. Classic Herb Stuffing

Cooking Light / via cookinglight.com

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without stuffing — so sweat your veggies, add in this yummy bread mixture, toss it in the oven for a bit and dig in! This recipe recommends using whole grain bread to create a healthier dish.

6. Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce

Cookie and Kate / via cookieandkate.com

Bright in color, tangy in flavor — now that’s a good cranberry sauce! This healthier version uses honey, maple syrup and orange zest instead of sugar.

7. Quinoa with Leeks and Herbs

A Couple Cooks / via acouplecooks.com

Quinoa lovers! This one’s for you. This gluten-free recipe is packed with protein and fiber and serves as a good alternative for stuffing.

8. Winter Squash Agrodolce

Epicurious / via epicurious.com

If you liked the carrot recipe mentioned earlier — you’ll love this as well! Each dish has a similar smoky, spicy yet sweet flavor that is irresistible.

9. Healthy Potato Gratin with Herbs

Food and Wine / via foodandwine.com

This recipe may be cream-less, but it’s far from flavorless. Potatoes and rosemary pair so well together that you won’t even notice the lack of dairy.

Looking for more healthy recipes, fun wellness tips and like-minded travel nurses? Join the Aya Wellness Community on Facebook!