Eating healthy does not mean eating boring meals all the time.

You can create healthy side dishes that are easy to make and mouth-watering at the same time.

There are plenty of foods that can help you lose weight without making you lose your appetite.

So in today’s post, I’m sharing a roundup of healthy side dishes that can make any meal special, yet help you stay within your calorie goal.

35 Healthy Side Dishes For Weight Loss

Mashed Potatoes Side 

272 calories 

Ingredients:

• 1 Potato, white, medium, 5 inches – 160 calories
• 1 Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) – 103 calories
• 1 Tbsp Milk, 2% (Tbsp) – 9 calories
• 1 Garlic salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. NOTES: You can make multiple servings at once. This “meal” is an “easy add”. It is not a meal by itself.
2. Chop up the potatoes into small pieces.
3. Add potatoes to a pot of water, and bring it to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, or until you can bite into a potato piece & it’s cooked through.
4. Drain away the water, then add in your butter, milk, and garlic salt and pepper to taste to the pot with the potatoes. Turn heat to low-medium, and cook on low heat ~5 minutes, stirring occasionally until pot’s contents are well-combined.
5. No dairy? Use oil instead of butter and dairy-free milk of choice.

Brussels Sprouts & Bacon

Depending on the main dish and how hungry you are, this can be even for 2 people, when used as a side.

403 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Brussels sprouts – 112 calories
• 3 Uncured bacon, slice – 132 calories
• ⅓ cup Cheese, crumbled, blue cheese – 159 calories

Instructions:

1. Cut bacon into small pieces with kitchen shears.
2. Add bacon to pan, cook on lowest heat ~10 minutes stirring occasionally, until cooked through.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
4. Chop hard ends off of Brussels sprouts & then cut them in half.
5. Spray oven safe pan or casserole container with an oil spray – add in all ingredients.
6. Bake for 30 minutes, mixing around ingredients midway through.
7. Notes: No pork? Use turkey bacon or soy bacon. No dairy? Use oil instead of the oil spray.

Baked Potato Side

160 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 Potato, white, medium, 5 inches – 160 calories

Instructions:

1. Poke holes with a fork in the top & bottom of the potato.
2. Microwave for 3 minutes on top & bottom (6 minutes total).
3. Remove from microwave and enjoy.

Blue Cheese Salad With Tomatoes

If used as a side, this should probably be good for 2 people, not just one. You can even eat this as the main dish sometimes, it’s truly amazing.

457 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Mixed greens – 20 calories
• 1 Tomato, medium – 22 calories
• ⅓ cup Cheese, crumbled, blue cheese – 159 calories
• ⅛ cup Pecans (cups) – 94 calories
• ½ Avocado, small – 116.5 calories
• 2 Tbsp Dressing, creamy (e.g. ranch), light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 45 calories
• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Chop tomato and avocado
2. Mix all ingredients
3. No dairy? Use additional nuts and a light vinaigrette 
4. Any creamy dressing is fine, try Bolthouse Blue Cheese dressing if your store carries it

Stir Fried Spinach With Chickpeas Side

162 calories

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 28 calories
• ½ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked – 134 calories
• 1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Garlic salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Drain and rinse chickpeas.
2. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Stir-fry spinach and chickpeas ~1-2 minutes on low-medium heat or until spinach has wilted.
3. Top with seasonings.

Garlic Broccoli Side

This is one of my favorite low calorie sides – it goes so well with any protein, it’s super healthy, and tastes amazing. It’s also gluten free, if that’s what you need. If you’re looking for a vegetable side dish, this pan fried option is definitely one you should try out.

31 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Broccoli – 31 calories
• ½ tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories
• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Cut broccoli into small pieces, if not already.
2. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Add in garlic.
3. Stir fry broccoli ~6 minutes on low-medium heat.
4. Top with salt.

Cauliflower Bake

This recipe works the best if you make more servings at once, so it’s amazing to make as a side when you have people coming over, or if you’re bringing a side to a gathering. Everyone will definitely love it.

342 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Cauliflower florets – 50 calories
• ⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar – 152 calories
• ⅓ cup Cheese, Parmesan, grated (cups) – 115 calories
• 0.0625 cup Heavy Cream (cups) – 25 calories
• 1 Garlic salt, dash – 0 calories
• 1 tsp Red pepper flakes, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. This recipe works best when making 2+ servings at once.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
3. Spray an oven-safe dish with an oil spray.
4. Cut cauliflower pieces into small pieces.
5. Spray a pan with an oil spray.
6. Stir fry cauliflower pieces for ~6 minutes.
7. Mix all ingredients in a bowl, transfer to oven-safe dish.
8. Bake for 30 minutes.

Rice

STARCH

110 calories

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Rice, cooked – 110 calories

Instructions:

1. This “meal” is to be used as an addition to a meal, so you can easily increase calories

Parmesan Green Beans Side

If you’re looking for a vegetable side dish, this is another one you need to try out. The parmesan adds flavor to a typically simple ingredient, but it’s still a healthy vegetable side dish that goes so well with any protein of your choice.

64 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Green beans – 39 calories
• ¼ tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories
• 1 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) – 25 calories

Instructions:

1. Spray a pan with an oil spray.
2. Add in garlic.
3. Stir fry green beans ~5 minutes on low-medium heat.
4. Top with cheese.
5. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, or use oil instead of the oil spray.

Stove Top Roasted Carrots Cinnamon Carrots Side

144 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 Carrots, whole, medium – 25 calories
• 1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
• 1 tsp Cinnamon – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Peel carrots. Slice carrots into thin strips.
2. Add oil to a pan.
3. Stir fry on low heat, covered with a lid ~15 minutes.
4. Top with cinnamon.

Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Regular mashed potatoes are amazing. But, if you want to switch it up, don’t forget about sweet potatoes! They’re great for you, and make the perfect side. Check out the recipe for spicy mashed potatoes here.

Feta Tomato Pasta With Spaghetti Squash

498 calories

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Feta, block – 225 calories
• 2 cups Tomatoes, grape – 64 calories
• 1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
• 1 tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories
• 2 cups Squash, spaghetti – 90 calories

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 deg F.
2. Spray a small casserole dish with an oil spray.
3. Add in tomatoes. Top with olive oil, garlic, and spices, mix so everything is coated.
4. Add in feta cheese in the center of the casserole dish.
5. Slice spaghetti squash if you haven’t already (be careful!).
6. Line a baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper & spray it with an oil spray. Put spaghetti squash on top of baking sheet, cut side down.
7. Bake casserole dish with tomatoes & feta, and spaghetti squash for 40 minutes.
8. Mix tomato & feta mixture until creamy.
9. Shred spaghetti squash with a fork, add spaghetti squash to casserole dish & mix in.
10. Note: 2 cups cooked spaghetti squash = about 1/2 a spaghetti squash
11. No dairy? Dice up 4 oz raw chicken to cook in place of the feta, & add another 1 tsp oil.

Bacon Cauli Fried Rice Side

107 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Cauliflower rice, raw (already riced) – 38 calories
• 1 Uncured bacon, slice – 44 calories
• 1 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) – 25 calories
• 1 Garlic salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Cut bacon into small pieces. Add to a pan, cook on low heat until cooked through.
2. Add caulfloweri rice to the pan with bacon ~5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until you see some browning.
3. Top with seasonings and cheese.
4. No bacon? Use turkey or soy bacon. No dairy? Use a dairy free cheese or cook cauli rice with oil.

Side Salad

61 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Leafy greens, butter lettuce, raw – 14 calories
• ½ Cucumber, small – 16 calories
• ½ Bell pepper, green – 13.5 calories
• 1 Tbsp Vinaigrette, light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 17.5 calories
• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Basil, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Chop cucumber and pepper.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus

Asparagus is an amazing and healthy side that pairs perfectly with chicken or salmon.

You can make it extra special and yummy by adding some parmesan to it!

Check out the recipe here.

Stuffed Tomatoes

When you think of side dishes with tomatoes, you probably just think of salads.

However, tomatoes can also be delicious when stuffed – they turn into the best side dish for any protein!

Check out the recipe here.

Roasted Veggies

One of the best healthy sides is roasted veggies. When looking for a vegetable side dish, roasted veggies is probably the first one you’ll think of.You can use any veggies you like – broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, eggplant, onion, sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc. Roast them with your favorite seasonings and a bit of olive oil (seasonings add flavor to veggies, so don’t skimp on them), and you have one of the best healthy side dish recipes. If you want to make them extra special, sprinkle on a bit or parmesan to make them extra tasty. 

You can also make a little dipping sauce to go with them (for example if you’re eating them as a side with chicken, you can dip both in this sauce) by mixing some greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt, and oregano (and optionally some sour cream but it’s less healthy that way).

French Fries

We all love french fries, that’s for sure. However, they’re not really the healthier side dish.

But, if you want to eat them, there’s a way to make them a lot healthier! To do that, just make them or put them in an air fryer, with a tiny bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, and other seasonings you like (smoked paprika, garlic powder, etc., whatever you like).

Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are one of the tastiest potato dishes, and the perfect side. It pairs so well with chicken or steak.

Here’s a healthy recipe for scalloped potatoes.

Copycat Chipotle Fajita Veggies

All Chipotle lovers, this is for you. If you love Chipotle, you’ll definitely love this. Ordering Chipltle is definitely not the healthiest food you can eat, so this copycat recipe for their fajita veggies can be an amazing side dish to your chicken, steak, or any other protein you’ll eat as the main dish.

Quinoa

Quinoa is one of the best healthy sides you can eat. It’s so good for you, and it’s healthy. It goes amazing with tons of main meals (salmon, chicken, etc.).

Cous Cous

Cous cous is another great side, that’s healthy and good for you. 

Lentils

Lentils are amazing for you – they’re packed with protein and tons of good stuff, they’re low calorie, and can be paired with tons of things.

Beans

Beans are another amazing side. They have protein and many other things you need, and can be made in many different ways. You can just open a can of beans and eat them as a side that way, depending on what the main meal is. Or, you can make baked beans.

Cauliflower Mash/Puree

Cauliflower Mash or  Puree is an amazing substitute to potato puree or mashed potatoes, contains less carbs, a bit more nutrients, and less calories, so it’s an amazing substitute when you’re on your weight loss journey and want to cut calories. It goes perfectly with any dish you’d normally serve with mashed potatoes.

Whole Grain Pasta

Pasta doesn’t have to be unhealthy! If you serve it as a side, you won’t eat too much of it, and if it’s whole grain  it’s even better for you. You can mix it with a healthy tomato sauce, and serve with chicken, fish, steak, or any other protein you like. You measure how much you’re making, and if you eat a good amount, it will be a healthy source of carbs.

Bulgur

Bulgur is packed with vitamins, minerals, and protein, so it’s very healthy, and works as the perfect healthy side dish. It’s also low calorie, so it makes it perfect for weight loss.

Spinach

Spinach is an amazing side dish! It’s healthy, low calorie, great for weight loss, and has tons of nutrients. You can just cook it with water and seasonings, or you can add a bit of milk/cream (just not too much cream if you want to make it healthy).

It goes great with tons of dishes.

Healthy Potato Salad

Potato Salads don’t have to be unhealthy! You can make a healthy potato salad, by boiling potatoes and mixing it with some cooked and cut
up spinach, lemon juice, salt and pepper, an a tiny bit of olive oil. That salad goes great with fish. Or, you can mix boiled potatoes with red onion, lemon juice, salt and pepper, olive oil, and that salad also goes well with fish or any protein.

Or, you can add greek yogurt to the boiled potatoes and add in some veggies, to make a healthier version of the potato salad you’re used to (that’s normally made with mayo).

Cauliflower Salad

Since cauliflower is a known replacement for both potatoes and rice, you can substitute potatoes for cauliflower when making a “potato salad”. Mix cauliflower, greek yogurt, and other ingredients you normally add to a potato salad, and you have a healthier version with more nutrients.

Zoodles

Zoodles, or zucchini noodles, are the perfect healthy side dish for weight loss. They’re super low in calorie, and can be used in any dish you’d use spaghetti in. So, you can mix them with a bit of parmesan and serve as a side dish with chicken. Or you can mix them with a tomato sauce and serve as a side for any protein you like.

Brussels Pomegranate Salad

This amazing salad works as a whole dish, but if you make it for more people, you can serve it as a side dish to any protein you’re eating. It’s healthy, packed with nutrients, and great for weight loss.

408 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Brussels sprouts – 56 calories
• 2 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 14 calories
• ½ cup Pomegranate seeds – 87 calories
• 1 oz Cheese, Parmesan, shaved (oz) – 111 calories
• ⅛ cup Almonds – 105 calories
• 2 Tbsp Vinaigrette, light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 35 calories
• ½ Salt, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Spray pan with an oil spray.
2. Cut off rough stem of Brussels and then cut in half (you can also buy pre-shaved Brussels sprouts for this salad if you find it in your store).
3. Stir fry Brussels sprouts ~15 minutes on low-medium heat until you see some browning.
4. Let cool in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
5. Mix with the rest of the ingredients.
6. Pomegranate seeds too expensive? Use any berry like blueberries
7. Dairy free? Use extra nuts.
8. Note: I like Trader Joe’s fat free vinaigrette – but Paul Newman, Whole Foods, etc. all have good light dressings.

Caprese Salad With Balsamic Glaze

You can also make this and serve it to two people as a side.

314 calories

Ingredients:

3 oz Cheese, sliced, mozzarella, full fat/ regular – 240 calories

2 Tomato, medium – 44 calories

1 Tbsp Balsamic glaze – 30 calories

1 Basil, dash – 0 calories

1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories

1 Salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Slice tomato & mozzarella if not already sliced
2. Drizzle with balsamic glaze & add seasonings
3. No dairy? Use avocado

Chopped Salad

This could definitely be a whole meal, but if you want to eat it as a side for chicken, make a smaller portion, or make this for two people as a side.

408 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 14 calories
• 1 Cucumber, small – 32 calories
• 1 Tomato, medium – 22 calories
• 2 Egg, large – 144 calories
• 1 Uncured bacon, slice – 44 calories
• ½ Avocado, small – 116.5 calories
• 2 Tbsp Vinaigrette, light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 35 calories
• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Basil, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Hard boil eggs, and then chop into small pieces once cooled
2. Fry bacon on stove top by cooking on low heat & turning every few minutes. Alternatively, you can cook bacon in the microwave or in the oven (~20 minutes at 400 degrees) if you prefer.
3. Chop tomato, cucumber, and avocado into small pieces.
4. Mix all ingredients together.
5. No pork? Use soy or turkey bacon.
6. Note: I like Trader Joe’s fat free vinaigrette – but Paul Newman, Whole Foods, etc. all have good light dressings.

Greek Style Chopped Salad

This would be a great side salad for two people. You can pair it with grilled chicken.

342 calories

Ingredients:

• ½ Cucumber, small – 16 calories
• ½ Bell pepper, red – 18.5 calories
• ½ cup Tomatoes, grape – 16 calories
• ¼ Onion, red – 13.75 calories
• ⅓ cup Cheese, crumbled, feta – 133 calories
• ½ oz Olives, sliced – 25 calories
• 1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
• 0.3 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) – 0.9 calories
• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Basil, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. Chop vegetables & mix together in a bowl with olives.
2. Add in cheese, oil, vinegar, and seasonings. Mix.
3. No dairy? Use avocado or more oil.

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