Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dish: Fall Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Goddess Dressing

This Fall Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Goddess Dressing celebrates the bounty of the season in a beautiful combination of tastes and textures. From crunchy toasted pecans to tender roasted acorn squash, crisp juicy apples to tart dried cranberries, it’s a healthy Thanksgiving side dish that won’t weigh you down!

Hi, friends! I’m so excited to share today’s recipe with you and to introduce you to a fun new partnership that I’ll be working on over the next few months: Kohl’s #MakeYourMove campaign!

Kohl’s shares so many of my core beliefs that permeate the posts on this blog. The goal of the Make Your Move program is to show Americans that living well and feeling good can be easy and fun. Getting healthy doesn’t have to be about deprivation or punishment. Instead, let’s lead a balanced and healthier life by doing the things that energize, enliven, and motivate us! We can celebrate delicious foods, find physical activities that bring us joy, and learn to focus more on the important people and moments in our lives. Sounds pretty darn good, doesn’t it?!

My job in the coming months will be to show you that living well doesn’t just sound good — it’s actually possible! I’m planning manageable workouts that you can do at home, a fun shopping guide for all of the healthy women in your life, and plenty of delicious and nutritious recipes to see you through the season…starting with this salad!

I wanted to create a lighter, more vibrant option for your holiday table, which pairs perfectly with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and any of your other Thanksgiving favorites. And who wouldn’t want these fresh, seasonal ingredients on a festive table?! They are the quintessential autumn flavors!

If you’re serving this colorful salad for a special occasion, then you’ll also want to make sure that you have some beautiful dishes to highlight its rustic and natural beauty! I absolutely love the look and quality of the plates (from Food Network’s “Fontinella” line of dishes) and the giant wooden Salad serving bowl that you see here. I picked them up at my local Kohl’s store, but you can also find them online. What I love most, though, is that these versatile pieces are nice enough to use on a holiday table, but they are also equally appropriate for a weeknight family supper. They are timeless products that I can use and enjoy year-round!

And anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I have a major love affair with protein shakes and smoothies, which I always make in my Nutribullet. What you might not know, though, is that my beloved Nutribullet is also great for making salad dressings. It’s the perfect size when you don’t want to haul out a giant blender, and it emulsifies your ingredients for a smooth and creamy consistency in a matter of seconds.

This creamy and healthy Greek yogurt-based pumpkin salad dressing is really just a fun twist on my favorite Green Goddess Dressing, which is a time-tested and well-loved recipe that was passed down to me from my mother-in-law’s friend. It’s a must-try!

So toss together some of autumn’s tastiest ingredients in a beautiful and delicious salad that is perfectly “fit” for the holidays! It’s a delicious way to enjoy this special time of year celebrating with family and friends, focusing on what’s important in our lives, and nourishing our body and soul!

But don’t worry — you don’t have to wait until November 26 to enjoy the goodness! This salad is also a great side dish with a warm bowl of roasted butternut squash soup, or you can add some chicken on top for a light and satisfying main course. No matter when (or how) you serve it, this Fall Harvest Salad will soon become a family favorite, and it’s a great way to get started as you #MakeYourMove!

[Tweet “A Fall Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Goddess Dressing is a tasty & healthy side dish! #MakeYourMove #fitfluential”]

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN: How will YOU #MakeYourMove this season? Will you try out some new healthy and delicious recipes? Squeeze in an extra workout each week? Or maybe curl up in bed a little bit earlier each night so that you’re getting adequate rest to conquer the holidays with your BEST self?! Let me know your plans, share your progress on social media with the hashtag #MakeYourMove, and please continue to follow along as I bring you even more inspiration in the coming months!

Plus, be sure to follow Kohl’s on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Looking for other delicious seasonal sides? Try these favorites:

Praline-Stuffed Acorn Squash

Green Bean Casserole with Bacon and Mushrooms

Light & Creamy Apple Salad

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Kohl’s.