10 Healthy Vegan Side Dishes That Even Non-Vegans Will Love

Wholesome side dishes to help with weight loss
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Healthy side dishes can accentuate your overall dining experience. And when it’s home-cooked, low-calorie side dishes that are also vegan, it can be an absolute treat for your tastebuds. So, whether it’s healthy side dishes for weight loss or vegan side dishes to satisfy your cravings, we’ve got it all covered in this blog.

Here are 10 healthy recipes for vegan side dishes that will be perfect, with just about any meal.

Vegan Side Dishes
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5 Healthy Side Dishes For Weight Loss

It’s a common misconception that losing weight requires skipping meals or avoiding the food you love to eat. However, the right way to lose weight is to eat healthily and introduce more physical activities to your lifestyle. This means you can still eat the delicious food you want by making small nutritious adjustments to your diet. For example, substitute brown rice in place of white rice or choose low-calorie side dishes over the regular ones. This brings us to 5 yummy and healthy side dishes for weight loss that you can easily include in any of your meals.

1. Cole Slaw With Purple Cabbage

healthy side dishes for weight loss - vegan cole slaw
The Spruce

This Vegan Cole Slaw recipe is a great side dish for lunch. The key ingredient in this recipe is purple cabbage which is low in calories and is packed with nutrients. It makes this recipe a good choice for people aiming to lose weight.

All you need is green and purple cabbage, carrots, onions, lemon juice, vegan mayonnaise, and add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Toss all the ingredients together and serve fresh. If you have extra time on your hands, chill it for an hour to develop the flavor. Then, toss it again and adjust salt and pepper before serving.

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

2. Grilled Tofu & Asparagus

Healthy side dishes for weight loss - grilled tofu and asparagus
The Simple Veganista

Tofu is considered good for weight loss as this protein-rich ingredient keeps you full for much longer. This vegan side dish recipe is easy to make and is full of flavor and texture. Pair cauliflower rice with this healthy side dish and your well-balanced meal is ready.

To make Grilled Tofu & Asparagus, dice tofu into bite-size pieces and trim the bottoms of the asparagus. Prepare a marinade sauce by whisking together some tamari, rice vinegar, and maple syrup. Coat the grill pan with sesame oil, then grill marinade-coated tofu and asparagus with lemon slices. Serve hot with some cauliflower rice.

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3. Skillet Cornbread With Jalapeños

Healthy side dishes for weight loss - vegan skillet cornbread
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Skillet Cornbread is amongst the most popular recipes when it comes to vegans. It’s a portion of comfort food that pairs well with Southern-themed meals. Although a bit high on carbs, cornbread can be a healthy choice for weight loss as it has various nutrients, including phosphorus, selenium, and vitamin B.

To make this recipe, you will need unsweetened soy milk, freshly squeezed lemon juice, all-purpose flour, cornmeal, baking powder, jalapeño pepper, corn kernels, vegetable oil, or canola oil, maple syrup, vegan butter, and add salt to taste. Check out the step-by-step recipe to make soft and yummy cornbread.

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

4. Smoky Apple Baked Beans

vegan side dishes - Smoky apple-baked-beans
Fatfree Vegan Kitchen

Baked beans are usually paired with bacon or pork and are loaded with sugar. However, this homemade vegan recipe uses dates and apples for sweetness, and the three kinds of beans used for this recipe make it rich in proteins. It is one of the best healthy side dishes for weight loss.

Make this recipe with onions, bell pepper, garlic cloves, apples, can black beans, chickpeas, can great northern beans, tomato sauce, dates, cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, gluten-free tamari, smoked paprika, smoked salt to taste, freshly ground black pepper, and ground chipotle pepper. To check out the detailed recipe, visit the link below.

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5. Baked Sweet Potato Fries

healthy side dishes for weight loss baked-sweet-potato-fries
The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

This vegan side dish recipe is for people who can not help their cravings for fries, and also want to watch their weight at the same time. This healthy recipe of Baked Sweet Potato Fries is a low-fat substitute for regular deep-fried French fries.

All you need to make this quick and easy gluten-free recipe is some sweet potatoes cleaned and cut into wedges. Drizzle some olive oil on these wedges and toss them in a mix of salt, cumin, and paprika. Bake the sweet potato fries in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, checking that they are getting baked evenly at regular intervals. Your crispy and healthy fries are now ready to serve!

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

5 Low-Calorie Side Dishes For Fitness Lovers

Whether you are trying to lose weight or want to maintain a healthy weight, low-calorie foods can be helpful to achieve these goals. Three factors make the food you eat low in calories – water content, fiber content, and protein content. Water has zero calories. Fiber slows down the digestion process, ensuring nutrients are nicely absorbed. And proteins make you feel full for longer. In other words, when you eat food rich in water, fiber, and proteins, you don’t feel hungry too easily or very quickly.

So, here are 5 low-calorie side dishes to add to your diet if you’re planning to maintain or lose weight.

1. Garden Spring Rolls

Low-Calorie Side Dishes - Garden Spring Rolls
Eat Plant Based

Garden Spring Rolls is a versatile vegan side dish and makes an excellent low-calorie snack. It contains rice paper wraps and veggies that are both high in fiber and water content. However, the best part about this low-calorie side dish is that it is super quick to make, packed with nutrients, and is surprisingly filling.

All you need to do is season your choice of veggies like carrots, onions, purple cabbage, avocado, bean sprouts, fresh mint, etc., and some tofu with salt and pepper for the filling. Next, put the rice paper wraps in warm water till they soften. Now, roll the filling in the rice paper wraps. Serve this with your favorite dipping sauce. Your delicious spring garden rolls are ready to eat!

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

2. Colorful Roasted Sheet-Pan Veggies

Low Calorie Side Dishes - Colorful Roasted Pan Fried Veggies
Eating Well

These Sheet Pan Roasted Veggies will be a colorful addition to your meal. They are delicious, low carb, and packed with flavor. It’s a quick recipe. Here’s a pro tip: toss the butternut squash in the oven for 10 minutes before adding other veggies, as it takes a little longer to cook.

To make this colorful recipe toss some cubed butternut squash, broccoli florets, red bell peppers, cut into squares, large red onion cut into bite-size chunks in the oven. Make sure to add a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, a drizzle of olive oil, some balsamic vinegar, pepper, and coarse kosher salt to taste.

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

3. Fresh Corn Salsa

Vegan Side Dishes - Fresh Corn Salsa
The Simple Veganista

Fresh Corn Salsa is a great choice for a fiber-rich recipe for those looking to add low-calorie side dishes to their meal. This recipe is a good mix of texture, flavor, and colors. Also, corn is rich in antioxidants which help improve metabolism.

To make this recipe, you will need corn kernels, diced bell peppers, diced red onions, diced jalapeno, freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and garnish with some fresh cilantro sprigs. Pair it with healthy chips or as a dressing for a healthy burrito.

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

4. Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

Low Calorie Side Dishes Spinach Stuffed-Mushrooms
Eat Plant Based

This vegan appetizer is full of fiber, protein, and nutrients and fits perfectly as a side dish for social gatherings and parties. Spinach and mushrooms make a classic combination for great recipes, and at the same time, are considered great for weight management too.

You can either go with baby portobello mushrooms or button mushrooms as the base for this recipe. And for the stuffing, you will need cashew nuts or white beans, artichoke, spinach, garlic, plant milk, homemade mayo, garlic cloves, lemon juice, ground mustard, with salt and pepper to taste. Check out the detailed recipe to add a delicious vegan side dish to your weekly meals.

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

5. Spaghetti Squash With Herbs & Garlic Breadcrumbs

Low Calorie Side Dishes Spaghetti Squash
Jacob Fox

This yummy recipe is healthy and takes less than half an hour to cook. This low-calorie, high-fiber dish is perfect for any time of the day.

To make Spaghetti Squash With Herbs & Garlic Breadcrumbs, take one half of the spaghetti squash cut length-wise, add some water to it, and bake till it’s tender. Next, in a pan, cook breadcrumbs with some garlic, salt, and pepper until golden brown. Use a fork to scrape the squash in a bowl and add finely chopped herbs such as basil and parsley, some oil, salt, and pepper. Serve hot topped with breadcrumbs.

Get The Detailed Recipe Here

We hope these healthy side dishes for weight loss and low-calorie side dishes will make a wholesome addition to your eating habits, and help you achieve your fitness goals the right way!

Oh, and yes! Don’t forget to check out some mouthwatering, easy recipes for vegan dips that will fit right in with these healthy side dishes.

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