Easy Entertaining: 8 Simple Sides

With the holiday season quickly approaching, you likely will have parties to attend, meals to prepare, and many guests visiting. It can be easy to get stressed out, but that's not necessary!  In this blog series, easy entertaining, I am sharing some of my tips for easy entertaining and recipes that are quick, easy, and most importantly delicious!  I am taking some of my favorite holiday recipes and giving them a RDtipoftheday healthy tweak. I'm excited to share these recipes and hope that this will help you have a happy and healthier holiday season.

To make entertaining easier, I would encourage you do offer a few different sides that are easy to prepare. That way, you have a variety of food choices, but you did not make complicated dishes. I also like to think about using different cooking methods to make sure you can prepare all the dishes at the same time. So, I like to make something ahead of time (think salad or crudites), something in the oven, and something on the stove top. This helps keep the oven from getting too full or trying to cook to many things on the burners. To help, here are some examples of simple sides made by me, RDtipoftheday.


Simple Sides

Crudites Platter with Hummus

 Roasted Brussels Sprouts

and Steamed Carrots

Green Bean Bundles
using lower fat turkey bacon

Butternut Squash Salad with Pecans

Asian Almond Green Beans

Black Pepper and Honey Glazed Carrots
add black pepper for a sweet and spicy treat

Turkey Crudites Platter
with Homemade Hummus

Cobb Salad

Great for holiday leftovers!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 


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Kids Eat Right Month: Green Chips

Happy Kids Eat Right Month! As a pediatric registered dietitian (RD), I often get asked many questions about feeding children in a healthy way. This month we will discuss many topics about healthy eating with a focus on teaching children how to eat healthy. Luckily, these principles can be applied to children of all ages (including adults who are kids at heart)!

So, the most common question I get is "How do I get my child to eat healthy?". Today, I have an easy recipe that might just get your child to try Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts are a member of the cabbage family, that's why they look like mini cabbages. Brussels sprouts are high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A; they are low in calories and fat.

You may have grown up with mushy, smelly Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts have a mineral, sulfur, in them. If you over-cook this vegetable, there can be an odor. I happen to love Brussels sprouts. I love a crispy, roasted vegetable, which is how I came up with this simply, quick recipe.

For children, I think marketing is important for fruits and vegetables. We can make eating fruits and veggies fun by incorporating colors or giving dishes fun names. For grown-ups, I would call this roasted Brussels sprouts. For kids, we could name this green chips or Hulk chips (if your child is an Avengers fan). Here's the recipe.

Green Chips or Roasted Brussels Sprouts
8 oz Brussels sprouts
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

Wash and trim your Brussels sprouts. Cut Brussels sprouts in half and trim the woody end. Separate leaves. Toss in olive oil and place in a 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. After 15-20 minutes, turn the Brussels sprouts and salt them. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until caramelized.

The leaves of the Brussels sprouts get caramelized and crispy. They turn into mini green chips. These are so delicious! Try them; I think you'll like it. Enjoy!

Stay tuned all this month for more on healthy eating and Kids Eat Right Month. For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Healthy RD Challenge: Day 10

How are you doing with the #HealthyRD Challenge? I hope you are doing well! 

What is the Healthy RD Challenge?

This is my challenge for each of us to take one step a day on the road to being healthier . . . the healthy road or #HealthyRD if you will. If you participate in the #HealthyRD challenge, make sure you use the hashtag #HealthyRD. Tag me on Instagram and or tweet me, @RDtipoftheday, for a chance to be featured! I am sharing the five healthy choices I'm making each day this week.  Here's a reminder of what I did for the Healthy RD Challenge last week: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, and Day 7, Day 8, and Day 9. Check out the links to get ideas on living a healthier lifestyle.

Healthy RD Challenge: Day 10

Today, I am going to try a new food and eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies today, which is my #HealthyRD Day 10 healthy choice. One healthy dietary obstacle most people face is eating enough fruits and veggies. Many people state that the taste of fruits and vegetables is the number 1 obstacle to meeting the #5aDayChallenge. So, I encourage you to try a new food. If you have tried a food before and not liked it, try the food cooked in a new way. My sister in law makes sauteed Brussels sprouts that are a Thanksgiving favorite. One of my favorite Mediterranean restaurants makes roasted cauliflower that are so delicious. If I did not try these foods, I would be missing out on some deliciously healthy foods. So, try a new food; you might just like it!

Today, I am going to meet the #5aDayChallenge. I first issued a #5aDayChallenge last summer as a way to encourage myself and others to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. I am taking the #5aDayChallenge to become a #HealthyRD (healthier Registered Dietitian). Who's with me?

How will you choose to be healthy today?

Check with your personal RD or MD before starting a new diet or exercise program to make sure it is healthy, safe, and the right choice for you.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

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