Why wait for the new year to start healthy habits? Jumpstart your healthy eating goals now with these delicious fruit and veggie side dishes. Whether you are hosting a Thanksgiving crowd, or just bringing something to share, these yummy recipes are sure to please your "peeps" and your palate.

#1 Roasted Brussel Sprouts

At my family's thanksgiving get togethers, someone is always ASSIGNED the brussels sprouts, just like someone is ASSIGNED the rolls and apple pie. They are that good.

Unlike boiled brussels sprouts (gag and cringe), roasted sprouts are crispy, sweet and delicious. Don't believe me? Check out all the positive reviews in the Allrecipes link below; while you are there, be sure to watch the how-to video.

image source: allrecipes.com (link above)

How much will this recipe cost? All you have to buy is the brussels sprouts ($5.49 @ Smiths - serves 8-10 people) and top them with a bit of oil and salt. That's it!

To cut on costs, you can use frozen brussels sprouts. The texture isn't as good, so I recommend using fresh sprouts your first time, and trying frozen later. Bulk sprouts at Winco or other markets might also be cheaper.

Want to know more about how to pick out and store brussels sprouts? Click here.

#2 Fresh Fruit Salad

Skip the coolwhip/pudding mix and serve your fruit salad naked! It will save you money and calories.

My favorite fall fruit salad is: apples, pomegranates and a little bit or orange.

Simply peel and chop 2-3 apples, separate the pomegranate seeds and peel the clementines. Mix them together in a bowl and voila, you've got a fancy fruit salad. For a bit more flavor, squeeze juice from a fresh lemon over the top.

How much will it cost? About $6. Sometimes you can get apples for less, I like to buy a few different kinds for different flavors.

Got new eaters? Serve up some applesauce instead. This recipe is a choking hazard for new eaters! Wait until your child is good a chewing before serving hard apples, pomegranate seeds and orange chunks.

#3 Bagged Salad Mix

Making your own salad can get expensive, especially if you don't already have dressing ingredients and fancy cheeses on hand.

I have fallen in LOVE with bagged salad mixes. The sweet kale and apple feta mixes are the perfect accompaniment to fall meals. My kids love the "Everything Bagel" salad mix from Taylor Farms.

The little crunchy bits in these salads also get kids (and wary adults!) interested in eating their greens. The portion size is small to prevent having leftovers rotting in the bottom of your fridge.

Smith's often clearances the salads out for $1.50, so keep an eye out for discount tags! Make sure the greens aren't slimy before purchasing and eat them within a day; discount produce is usually at the end of it's life.

BONUS RECIPE:

This one isn't as easy, but I want you to know about it because it's a family favorite:

Roasted Butternut Squash

image source: allrecipes.com

An alternative to roasted brussels sprouts is roasted butternut squash. It's more difficult to prepare (you have to peel and chop it, which is hard if you don't have sharp knife and a good peeler).

When roasted, these little squares of butternut squash taste like french-fries.

My family often can't wait for these to get off the pan before they start snitching on them.

Check out the recipe and how-to video here: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/229733/simple-roasted-butternut-squash/

How much will a butternut cost?

About $5 for a whole squash. Pre-cut squash is significantly more expensive per ounce, and frozen is the least expensive, but if you don't want to do the chopping, pre-chopped is a good option.

Those are my go-to side dishes for holiday meals. Do you have a favorite holiday side? If so, send me an email nicolebuhlerRD@gmail.com or put a comment on this post. I reply to all comments and emails!

Next week I will share some of my favorite sources for healthier thanksgiving desserts!

Happy Cooking!