The turkey may get all the press, but it’s the sides that steal the show on Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy these healthy takes on everyone’s favorites. They’re lower in saturated fat and sugar than traditional dishes but still full of flavor.

Tips for a Less Stressful Holiday Dinner

There’s no way to guarantee there won’t be some drama preparing the big meal. But by following this turkey-day timeline, you can help ensure the holiday runs a bit more smoothly.

Remember, the most important part of the holiday is to enjoy time spent with friends and family!

• 1 to 2 Weeks Before Thanksgiving Planning

  • Confirm the number of guests.
  • Plan the menu.
  • Read through all the recipes you’ll use, and make shopping lists.
  • Decide on decorations, table settings, and serving dishes

• A Few Days Before Thanksgiving Prep

  • Make any food that can be prepared ahead (cranberry sauce, pie dough).

• The Day Before the Thanksgiving Planning

  • Complete food shopping.
  • Prepare dishes that can be made in advance (soup, pie).
  • Chop veggies for side dishes. Refrigerate them in covered bowls or sealed plastic bags.
  • Set the table.

• Thanksgiving Day Tasks

  • Prep turkey for roasting, and place it in the oven at a predetermined time.
  • Prepare stuffing and all other sides.
  • Once turkey has roasted, allow it to rest before carving. Make gravy and reheat side dishes.
  • Arrange food on a buffet table or dining table.
  • Carve turkey and serve guests.

There’s no nice way to say it—life can be stressful. This is especially true during the holidays.

While most of us look forward to celebrating with friends and family, the festivities can compound our stress. Here are some helpful ways to get back to feeling merry and bright.

Stress-Busting Basics

During this busy time of year, it’s easy to rely on junk-food snacks to keep you going, which will make you feel worse. Instead choose healthy, stress-busting foods like avocado, blueberries, dark chocolate, and pistachios.

Making time to exercise regularly, even with a hectic schedule, is a great way to reduce stress. Find something physical you like to do, and work it into your routine. Exercise works best for stress relief when done regularly.

Nourishing Nutrients

Nutritional deficiencies can make stress symptoms worse. If your diet has been less than ideal, supplements can help.

Vitamin A has antioxidant properties that may help control feelings of stress. B-complex vitamins boost nervous system health. Vitamin C helps reduce feelings of anxiety caused by oxidative damage. Vitamin D deficiency can make it harder for your body to absorb other vitamins, and intensify feelings of stress.

Mineral Magic

Magnesium deficiency can make it harder for the body to respond to stress. In turn, stress tends to deplete magnesium resources, creating a feedback loop of compounding stress. Most Americans don’t get enough of this mineral through their diets, so consider a magnesium supplement.

Relaxing Herbs

Stress can make it hard to sleep. If you’re suffering from stress-related insomnia, consider valerian root. Take a time-out with a cup of chamomile tea to reduce anxiety, kava tea to help you relax, or tulsi tea to balance cortisol levels and relieve stress.

Everyone likes a big bird, and nobody likes waste. By now we all know the routine: guests start to leave, and the host sends them with as many containers as humanly possible! But if you look beyond the old standards—use the turkey carcass to make soup stock, pile the meat into a "Day After" sandwich—you can enjoy your leftover meat for days without eating the same meal twice.

Happy Hanukkah from Taste for Life!

Have a wonderful holiday celebration with this collection of delicious recipes!