Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Yes, I love it even more than the December holidays! Your guests will love these recipes for Thanksgiving dinner.

Every year, my parents host a big, 30-something-person holiday dinner. We've been doing this with the same five or six families since I was in kindergarten, and the kids still sit at the kids' table, with their kids now! (Those are us kids at last year's Thanksgiving!)

While my family always has must-have eats on the menu (like the Cinnamon Spice Muffins below), I'm always looking for some new ideas to whip up. That's why I asked my dietitian colleagues for their favorite healthy Thanksgiving appetizers, soups, breads, sides, and desserts to center around the main turkey (or in my case, Tofurkey) event. You're getting the best of easy dinner ideas, and I can't wait to hear which ones you've tried. Many of these ideas also make great cooking projects for kids. Enjoy these Thanksgiving recipes!

Pistachio and Wild Blueberry No-Bake Brie from my own kitchen

Spicy Cocoa Popcorn from Natalie Rizzo at Nutrition a la Natalie 

Chai Walnuts from Judy Barbe, author of Your 6-Week Guide to LiveBest: Simple Solutions for Fresh Food & Well-Being

Turkey Veggie Platter from my own kitchen

Cauliflower Poppers with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce from Natalie Rizzo at Nutrition a la Natalie

Southwestern Greek Yogurt Dip with Crudites from my own kitchen

Creamy Carrot Cauliflower Soup from my own kitchen

Spiced Pumpkin Bread from Jessica Levinson, co-author of We Can Cook: Introduce Your Child to the Joy of Eating with 75 Simple Recipes and Activities

Vegan Cranberry Ginger Quick Bread from Chelsey Amer at C It Nutritionally

Pumpkin Crescent Rolls from Anne Dunaway Teh and Lesley Baradel at 

My Menu Pal 

Roasted Butternut Squash and Chipotle Soup from Ashley Munro at 

A Pinch of Grace

Roasted Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup from Jessica Levinson 

Spice Muffins from my own kitchen 

Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins with No Added Sugar from Chelsey Amer at C It Nutritionally

Roasted Chestnut, Mushroom, and Cranberry Stuffing from Victoria Shanta Retelny, author of Total Body Diet for Dummies

Brussels Sprouts, Pancetta, and Apple Saute from Katie Cavuto, author of Whole Cooking and Nutrition: An Everyday Superfoods Approach to Planning, Cooking, and Eating with Diabetes

Simply Roasted Parsnips with Rosemary from Jenny Shea Rawn at My Cape Cod Kitchen

Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes from Amanda Hernandez at The Nutritionist Reviews

Greens with Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlic from Jessica Cording at Keeping It Real Food

Creamy Rice with Parsnip, Onion, and Pepper from my own kitchen

Freekeh-Stuffed Acorn Squash from Maria Westberg-Adams at Halsa Nutrition

Cinnamon Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes from Kelli Shallal, author of Make Ahead High Protein Breakfast Recipes 

Broccoli Slaw Salad with Flaxseeds and Hemp Seeds from my own kitchen

Winter Roasted Vegetables from Christy Brissette at 80 Twenty Nutrition

Healthy Mashed Potatoes with Rosemary and Goat Cheese from EA Stewart at Spicy RD Nutrition

Pesto Parmesan Spaghetti Squash from my own kitchen

Cheesy Corn Casserole from Anne Dunaway Teh and Lesley Baradel at 

My Menu Pal

Mashed Sweet Potatoes from Jennifer Lynn-Pullman at Nourished Simply

Cranberry Sauce with Red Wine and Vinegar from Marie Dittmer at 

Healthy Ideas Place

Creamy Buttermilk Mashed Cauliflower from Kelli Shallal 

Lowfat Apple Bacon Gouda Macaroni and Cheese from Jamie Vespa at

Dishing Out Health

Caramelized Onion Gravy from Denise Shepherd Barratt Vine Ripe Nutrition

Roasted Maple-Mustard Glazed Brussels Sprouts from Julie Harrington at RDelicious Kitchen

Sorghum and Roasted Butternut Squash with a Cranberry-Pear Sauce from

Tracee Yablon Brenner, co-author of Simple Food for Busy Families

Sweet Cranberry and Apple Lentils from my own kitchen

Citrus Glazed Carrots from Angela Grassi, author of The PCOS Nutrition Center Cookbook: 100 Easy and Delicious Whole Food Recipes to Beat PCOS

Green Beans with Pecans, Cranberries, and Parmesan from 

Karman Meyer at The Nutritionist Adventures

Fall Farro Salad with Pomegranate Seeds and Maple Apple Cider Dressing from

Chelsey Amer at C It Nutritionally

Cranberry Ginger Sauce from Tawnie Kroll at Kroll's Korner

Maple Balsamic Roasted Winter Vegetables from Marie Dittmer at

Healthy Ideas Place

Roasted Acorn Squash with Pomegranate and Pistachios from

Stephanie McKercher at The Grateful Grazer

Cranberry, Walnut, and Apple Arugula Salad from  Anne Dunaway Teh and Lesley Baradel at My Menu Pal

Orange Cranberry Sauce from Allison Stevens Schaaf at Prep Dish

Quinoa Mung Bean Salad from Shahzadi Devje at Desi-licious RD

Better-for-You Brussels Sprouts Gratin from Liz Weiss and Janice Newell Bissex, co-authors of The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers: Improving the Way Your Family Eats, One Meal at a Time!

No-Bake Nutty Pumpkin Squares from Shahzadi Devje at Desi-licious RD

Raw Vegan Pecan Bars from Kelly Sloan at Kelly's Knack for Cooking

Spiced Cheesecake with Roasted Cranberries from Jenny Shea Rawn at 

My Cape Cod Kitchen

Nutty Apple Cake from Lauren Harris-Pincus, author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club

Baked Mini Pumpkins from Christy Brissette at 80 Twenty Nutrition

Orange Cranberry Tart from Judy Barbe 

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie from Alice Henneman at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

 Almond Raspberry Banana Baked Rice from my own kitchen

Chocolate Pecan Bites from Jennifer Lynn-Pullman at Nourished Simply

Holiday Fruit Compote from Denise Shepherd Barratt at Vine Ripe Nutrition

Pumpkin Spice Cake Roll from Tammy Lakatos Shames and Lyssie Lakatos, co-authors of Nutrition Twins' Veggie Cure: Expert Advice and Tantalizing Recipes for Health, Energy, and Beauty

So-Simple Cinnamon Roasted Apples from my own kitchen

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