Lighten Up!

These four side dishes are festive enough for your holiday table but low enough in calories and fat to serve guilt-free all year round.

By Tara Bench

Ah, the holidays. Family, friends, football, fun-- and foods loaded with more butter and cream than you'd normally eat in a month. Ready for a reality check? The average Thanksgiving dinner weighs in at over 2,000 calories, according to Amy Jamieson-Petonic, R.D., manager of the Fairview Hospital Wellness Center in Rocky River, Ohio. But don't blame the turkey. The calorie culprits are all those side dishes: the buttery stuffing, whipped mashed potatoes, creamed onions, creamed green beans--heck, creamed anything. "Traditional trimmings tend to be made with whole milk, butter, and sausage--ingredients that pack hidden fat and calories," explains Jamieson-Petonic. If you're worried that by lightening your holiday meal you'll also be sacrificing good taste, relax. The following recipes prove that it's possible to serve dishes that are delicious and diet-friendly. In fact, we predict you'll love these four so much, they'll make a regular appearance on your table.