March 25, 2024

Healthy Easter Side Dishes: Nourishing Family Bonds

As Easter approaches, families eagerly anticipate coming together to celebrate with delicious meals and cherished traditions. While the holiday often involves decadent treats and indulgent feasts, there's a growing appreciation for incorporating healthier options, especially when it comes to side dishes.

In this blog post we'll explore the importance of fostering family mealtime through creating nutritious Easter side dishes, and share some delightful recipes to enhance your holiday gathering!

The Significance of Family Mealtime

Family mealtime is about more than just nourishing our bodies; it's an opportunity to strengthen bonds, create lasting memories, and reinforce traditions.

Families who regularly dine together experience numerous benefits, including improved communication, strengthened relationships, and healthier eating habits. By making mealtime a priority, especially during holidays like Easter, we can instill valuable lessons and create a sense of togetherness that lasts a lifetime.

The Power of Healthy Eating

While Easter often tempts us with sugary treats and calorie-laden dishes, prioritizing healthy eating doesn't mean sacrificing flavor or enjoyment. In fact, incorporating nutritious ingredients can enhance the dining experience, leaving everyone feeling satisfied and energized.

By choosing wholesome foods like fresh produce, lean proteins, and whole grains, we can create Easter side dishes that not only taste delicious but also support our overall health and well-being. To gain a better understanding of healthy foods to include in your eating, feel free to learn about the MyPlate diet.

Healthy Easter Side Dishes

Roasted Garlic Asparagus Spears: Celebrate the flavors of spring with this simple yet elegant side dish. Tender asparagus spears are roasted to perfection with garlic, olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt, creating a vibrant and flavorful addition to your Easter table.
Quinoa Salad with Fresh Herbs: This refreshing salad is a perfect complement to any Easter meal. Nutty quinoa is tossed with crisp vegetables, fragrant herbs, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette, creating a light and satisfying dish that's bursting with flavor and nutrients.
Honey Glazed Carrots with Thyme: Sweet and savory, these honey glazed carrots are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Tender carrots are roasted until caramelized and then tossed with honey, fresh thyme, and a pinch of cinnamon, creating a deliciously festive side dish that's both healthy and indulgent.
Spinach and Strawberry Salad: Add a pop of color to your Easter table with this vibrant salad. Fresh baby spinach is tossed with juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, and crunchy almonds, then drizzled with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, creating a refreshing and nutritious side dish that's as beautiful as it is delicious.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze: These crispy Brussels sprouts are a flavorful addition to any Easter feast. Roasted until golden brown and caramelized, then drizzled with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze, they're a deliciously healthy side dish that's sure to impress even the pickiest eaters.

Easter Side Dishes To Try This Year

This Easter, celebrate with your loved ones by creating healthy, festive meals that nourish both body and soul. By prioritizing family mealtime and incorporating nutritious side dishes into your holiday spread, you'll not only create lasting memories but also instill healthy eating habits that will benefit your family for years to come. Here's to a joyous Easter filled with love, family, and delicious, wholesome food!

Stuffed Easter “Carrots”

Recipe adapted from Aleka’s Get Together blog.

Ingredients:

7-10 mini bell peppers (I used orange and yellow peppers to look more like carrots)
3-4 fresh dill sprigs
4 oz low fat cream cheese
3 T non-fat, plain Greek yogurt
2 finely chopped green onions
1 T fresh dill (or 1 tsp dried dill)
1 T fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
⅛ tsp salt (a pinch)

Directions:

Soften cream cheese and mix in plain Greek yogurt, finely chopped green onion, finely chopped dill, finely chopped parsley, and salt in a bowl.
Prepare bell peppers by slicing them lengthwise in half. Remove the seeds and white pith of each pepper slice. Chop off the stem-end of each bell pepper.
Fill each bell pepper slice with the filling. Create carrot greens for each stuffed bell pepper slice by placing a small dill frond (from the sprigs of dill) in the filling to resemble a carrot green.

Easter Bunny Rolls

Recipe Adapted from An Oregon Cottage’s blog.

Ingredients:

2 T active dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup honey
3 eggs
1 cup lukewarm low-fat milk
4.5-5 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Dissolve the yeast in water and set aside. Mix olive oil, honey, milk, and eggs in a bowl. Mix in the yeast mixture after it has foamed up.
Mix 4.5 cups of flour and the salt to the wet ingredients till combined. Knead dough just until it no longer feels sticky. Add small amounts of flour as needed.
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for an hour.
Set the dough onto a floured surface and knead a few times, then let it set for 3 minutes.
Divide the dough into 24 pieces and shape each piece into a egg-shaped ball. Evenly distribute the rolls onto two baking sheets. Cover, and let the rolls rise for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Shape the rolls by snipping small incisions with kitchen scissors to create bunny ears, a tail, and use a toothpick to make small eye indents. Bake for 20-25 minutes.