Last week we talked about how to eat healthy when your family doesn’t.
I know you may not have the time or money to make your own meal separate from your family. So, one of my suggestions was to pair the main dishes your family is used to eating with healthy side dishes.
Since main dishes often have meat (or protein) and carbs covered, side dishes are a great opportunity to color your dinner plate with nutrient-rich vegetables.
We, Dietitians, like to say that a colorful plate (AKA a plate with 4+ colors) is a healthy plate.
So, I put together a list of 25 healthy dinner side dishes that will add lots of colors to your plate, while helping you get the nutrients your body needs. A bonus benefit is that you can invite your family into those changes too by offering your healthy sides to them.
Before we get to those recipes, let’s talk money.
If you’re looking to save money on fresh ingredients, buy produce that’s in season.
Here is an infographic from Cook Smarts on what vegetables are in season by the month.
When buying your groceries to make any meal, be sure to check what produce is in season.
By doing this, you can save yourself up to $100 a year or more (depending on how much produce you buy).
For another helpful resource on saving money when grocery shopping, check out this post by The Balance Everyday.
This simple side dish by Alyssa from The Recipe Critic is sure to please your sweet tooth. Carrots provide a high amount of vitamin A and a little Vitamin K too.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 25 minutes
https://therecipecritic.com/roasted-brown-butter-honey-garlic-carrots/
If you love having a colorful side dish that’s rich in nutrients and flavor, this dish is for you. This colorful dish is full of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, the B Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, and more. It’s got a lot of nutrients your body needs.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
https://17ddblog.com/italian-roasted-vegetables/
This 4-ingredient dish is simple and easy yet very tasty. If you or your family like roasted potatoes, then this recipe is for you. It’s full of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, B Vitamins, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 40 minutes
http://wallflowerkitchen.com/balsamic-roasted-new-potatoes-asparagus/
This quick and easy 5-ingredient dish tastes like a crust-free cheese pizza. It’s got Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, and Phosphorous.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes
https://zenandspice.com/baked-parmesan-tomatoes/
Baked potatoes make an easy side dish that’s full of flavor. This recipe is great for iron, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 25 minutes
https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/easy-garlic-ranch-potatoes/
Though sweet potatoes take a little more time to cook, this dish is full of tasty ingredients and nutrients. This recipe is full of B vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin E. It also is full of Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, and more.
Very colorful, very flavorful, and very tasty.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 1-hour
https://cafedelites.com/garlic-butter-smashed-sweet-potatoes-with-parmesan/
If you love bacon, this one is for you. This dish provides you with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Folate, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
Just make sure to soak up as much bacon grease as you can before adding it to the asparagus. Too much fat is not healthy for your heart.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
https://juliasalbum.com/asiago-bacon-and-garlic-roasted-asparagus
Cauliflower is a nutrient-rich vegetable that is pretty inexpensive when in season. As a bonus, this dish is full of Riboflavin, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 35 minutes
http://thefitchen.com/sweet-spicy-baked-cauliflower/
Sweet potatoes are very nutrient-rich and very tasty. This dish is great for Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, and Potassium.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 50 minutes
https://bakerbynature.com/extra-crispy-sweet-potato-wedges/
Zucchini and yellow squash are inexpensive vegetables during the summer. Make this dish to get Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
https://kalynskitchen.com/recipe-for-easy-cheesy-zucchini-bake/
Jump on over to Renee’s Kitchen Adventures to find a tasty medley of summer vegetables. This colorful dish is full of B vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes
https://www.reneeskitchenadventures.com/2015/07/summer-vegetable-saute.html
For those who can’t get enough asparagus and tomato, here’s a recipe for you. This recipe provides Folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, B Vitamins and Vitamin A.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
https://simple-veganista.com/2013/03/skillet-asparagus-tomato-medley.html
This simple 5-ingredient recipe over at Zen and Spice is fast and easy to make. The green beans in this recipe provide your body with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and lots of Vitamin K.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 20 minutes
https://zenandspice.com/sauteed-garlic-green-beans
Any mushroom and spinach lovers out there? This one’s for you.
If you decide to give this dish a chance, you’ll also be getting B Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and lots of Vitamin K. You’ll also get Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium. Now, that’s a lot of nutrients.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
https://juliasalbum.com/spinach-and-mushroom-quinoa-recipe/
If you don’t care for sautéed spinach but love mushrooms, you must try this one out. This dish is also a great source of B Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, lots of Vitamin K, and Phosphorous.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 20 minutes
http://cakescottage.com/2016/07/23/creamy-garlic-mushrooms/
The vibrant colors of zucchini and carrots in this dish are appealing in itself! This recipe also gives your body Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K. So, check out Julia’s Album for this simple recipe.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 20 minutes
https://cookingwithcurls.com/2017/02/06/sauteed-zucchini-carrots/
If you’ve never had Shakshuka before, this recipe will blow you away. The combo of eggs and tomatoes is just too good to pass up.
This Israeli dish is great for Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium. Plus you also get B Vitamins, Vitamin E and Vitamin D. Talk about a nutrient-rich dish!
Total Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
http://girlontherange.com/mains/shakshouka-sauteed-kale-feta-cheese/
This Mediterranean dish is easy to throw together and light on the stomach. It is also full of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, and Iron.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 5-10 minutes
https://thebusybaker.ca/easy-greek-salad/
This colorful and tasty salad provides your body with Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. And it also has Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
If you want a nutrient-rich easy dish, this one is for you.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
https://www.yayforfood.com/recipes/strawberry-cucumber-spinach-salad-apple-cider-vinaigrette
I cannot say enough great things about Lively Table’s recipes! This berry-ful salad does not disappoint in appearance or flavor. This recipe provides you with B vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorous.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
https://livelytable.com/berry-avocado-kale-salad/
All the flavor of Broccoli Salad without all the calories. If you decide to give this recipe a try, you won’t be disappointed. It’s full of Vitamin A, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Phosphorous.
You can also replace the sunflower seeds with flaxseeds for a little more healthy fats.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
https://simple-nourished-living.com/skinny-broccoli-salad-recipe/
Erin from Meaningful Eats put together this light and refreshing dish for the summer. This recipe gives you B Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorous.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
http://meaningfuleats.com/summercornsalad/
Another fresh and light dish, this one has 8 ingredients that work very well together. This dish is full of Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 1 hour
https://www.lifesambrosia.com/dill-cucumber-salad-recipe/
Talk about a colorful dish! This dish is not only colorful but is also high in lots of nutrients. Those nutrients being B Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin E, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/cowboy-caviar/
Five Heart Home has a great summer pasta recipe. This flavorful recipe has B vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes + several hours in the fridge to marinate
https://www.fivehearthome.com/fiesta-pasta-salad-black-bean-corn-tomato-recipe/
That’s all the healthy dinner side dishes I have for you today!
Do you have any go-to dishes that have been a hit with your family? Or have you found other healthy side dishes you enjoy eating? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
My name is Caitlin, but you can call me Cait. Wife and mom by day and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by night. I want to help you tailor your diet so you can look and feel healthy again.
