Picnic Salads, Lightened Up

Side salads are the opportunity to add lots of veggies, fruits and whole grains to your barbecue fare. However, many traditional side salads are drowning in mayo or oily dressings. Below are quick tricks to lighten up your favorite picnic salads, along with recipes you can try.

Potato Salad

Pick up this classic summer side at your supermarket and each serving may contain more than 300 calories and 20 grams of fat. Many homemade versions call for at least one cup of mayo — with 920 calories and 80 grams per cup. And although potatoes are filled with potassium and other good-for-you nutrients, cooked spuds still contain 65 calories per half-cup.

To lighten:
• Swap out some of the potatoes for nonstarchy veggies like parsnips or cauliflower.
• Bulk up the salad with tomatoes, celery, peas, carrots and bell peppers for a variety of vitamins and nutrients.
• Sub in a flavorful vinaigrette or pesto sauce for some of the mayo.

Recipes to try:
Pesto Potato Salad
Sweet Potato Salad
Quinoa and Purple Potato Salad

Pasta Salad

Heaps of pasta drowning in mayo or oil can sabotage any healthy eating plan. A half-cup portion of traditional pasta salad can rack up over 300 calories and 22 grams of fat. Most folks serve themselves three to four times the half-cup portion amount, causing the calorie count to skyrocket to 900 to 1,200 for a side salad.

To lighten:
• Instead of mayo, use a combo of nonfat plain Greek yogurt and low-fat mayo.
• Instead of using 1 cup of mayo, cut back to 1/4 cup (or 2 tablespoons each of Greek yogurt and low-fat mayo)
• Bulk up the salad with tons of veggies like tomatoes, carrots, zucchini and cukes.
• Use whole-grain pasta instead of white.

Recipes to try:
Corn and Pasta Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing
Whole-Wheat Pasta Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese
Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Peppers and Olives

Broccoli Salad

It’s the same mayo-filled story with this well-liked salad. Most recipes call for at least a cup of mayo or oil. Even if you use a healthy oil, it’s still 120 calories per tablespoon or 1,920 calories per cup!

To lighten:
• Use a vinaigrette dressing or substitute nonfat plain Greek yogurt for half the mayo.
• For an extra zing, add dried fruit like cranberries or raisins, or nuts or seeds like almonds, pecans or sesame seeds.
• Add flavor with very low-calorie herbs like basil, parsley or tarragon.

Recipes to try:
Fresh Broccoli Salad
Creamy Broccoli Salad
Asian Broccoli Salad with Tangy Chili-Garlic Dressing

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. She is the author of The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More Than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Day.

from Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog http://ift.tt/293rQoL