Food Showdown: Battle of the Creamy Side Dishes

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Memorial Day is quickly approaching, which signals the official kick-off of the summer barbecue season. While summer can be a great opportunity to enjoy a variety of fresh, seasonal produce, it can also be a recipe for disaster due to all of the high-calorie picnic fare that comes with it. You may know that grilled chicken breast is a healthier choice than a juicy cheeseburger, but what about the side dishes? Many of the old standards are loaded with mayonnaise and salt, and pack in a crazy amount of calories for a very small portion.

However, if you do choose to indulge in a creamy side dish this Memorial Day, which one would be the better choice for your waistline: macaroni salad or potato salad?
 
The Winner: Macaroni Salad!
 

A one-cup serving of potato salad has 358 calories and 20.5 grams of fat; not to mention 18% of your daily value for saturated fat. An equal serving of macaroni salad contains 272 calories and 12 grams of fat. Your best bet is to skip the creamy sides in favor of grilled veggies and fresh fruit salad—you'll get a lot more food on your plate for a lot fewer calories!


What's your favorite picnic side? Do you have a healthy recipe to share?