Can we all agree that a summer barbecue just isn’t complete without a big bowl of cool macaroni salad next to your favorite “grillables”? But, with ingredients like Kraft Light Mayonnaise (NuVal score: 4) and John Morrell Smoked Bacon (NuVal score: 5), sometimes these summer salads don’t exactly scream good nutrition! With the help of a few simple trade-ups, you can ditch the mayo and bacon for something more nutritious.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to trade-up pasta salad:
- Load up the veggies! Tossing in some fresh, colorful vegetables instantly increases the nutritional profile and great taste of any pasta salad. Some of my favorite high-scoring veggies are romaine lettuce (NuVal score: 100), tomatoes (NuVal score: 96), red bell pepper (NuVal score: 96), broccoli (NuVal score: 100), carrots (NuVal score: 99), and zucchini (NuVal score: 99) among others!
- Think outside the (pasta) box: With extra fiber and vitamins, whole grain pastas like Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Penne Pasta (NuVal score: 91) and Barilla Plus Multigrain Pasta Penne (NuVal score: 91) are much more nutritious than the white variety.
- Lighten your dressing: Mayo and store-bought salad dressings typically score low on the NuVal scale because they are packed with saturated fat. Instead, I dress my pasta salads with Chobani Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt (NuVal score: 94) or a simple homemade vinaigrette of canola oil (NuVal score: 24), lemon juice (NuVal score: 99), garlic (NuVal score: 96), vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. If you really want mayo in your summer salad (I know it’s tough to make potato salad without it!), try Hellmann’s Canola Cholesterol Free, which gets an 18 on the NuVal scale.
Trading Up Downtown Giveaway
In honor of the 4th of July barbecues this weekend, I’m giving away some Ronzoni Smart Taste Penne (NuVal score: 91), Ronzoni Smart Taste Spaghetti, and a travel container to transport your traded-up pasta salad to your next summer get-together.
To enter: Leave a comment on this post about your favorite summer recipe. I’ll randomly pick a winner on Tuesday morning after the holiday weekend. Good luck! 
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 
I love potato salad, but it can be sooo unhealthy! I make my own Curried Sweet Potato Salad that is made with super healthy sweet potatoes and fat-free organic yogurt. The recipe is featured in today’s Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com/life/go/picnic-perfect_2010-07-01.html
One of my favorite ways to make pasta salad is with light Italian dressing, but I am going to try your greek yogurt idea!
I love fruit pizza & sweet corn on the cob. Mmmm!!!
I made Mal’s pasta salad for an outing last night and it was delicious! I loved the black beans, which I never would have thought to add. Thanks for the recipe!
I make a corn casserole that is to die for and just screams summer – as well as an insanely easy and delicious peach cobbler.
My dad has a peach tree so every summer I make a peach crisp almost every week! I try to share so I don’t end up eating the whole thing myself.
I love making pasta salad, so I’ll have to try your suggestions here! I also make a yummy chocolate ‘cake’ – layers of chocolate graham crackers and chocolate pudding, topped with whipped cream and let sit for a few hours to allow the pudding to soak into the crackers. it’s very light and perfect for summer!
I love toasted corn salsa. Just toast a little bit of corn, some black beans, fresh cilantro, fresh jalapenos and a bit of cajun seasoning in a nonstick pan(alter the ingredient portions to your own taste)–toast it until it’s warm. Then, you can let it chill in the fridge and serve with tortilla chips. It’s also a great topping for grilled chicken.
I love berry parfaits during the summer. Fresh fruit is soo yummy!
I love grilled portobella burgers!
I love a good fruit salad at a bbq in the summer. Healthy and refreshing at the same time!
My fave summer recipe is salmon burgers and corn on the cob
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My favorite summer time bbq side dish would definitely be broccoli salad. Mix broccoli florettes with a few strips of crumbled turkey bacon, handful or two of golden raisins or cranberries, shredded carrots and light sesame ginger dressing (or make your own, of course). The longer this part sits, the better it gets! So, I try to make it at least a half a day before I want to eat it. Top with either toasted slivered almonds or crispy wontons for a little extra crunch!
My favorite is an orzo salad with roasted vegetables. I roast red peppers, green peppers, jalapenos, and red onions under my broiler, and peel charred bits as necessary. Then mix that with cooked orzo, dress with olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Easy, light, and oh so good!
Mediterranean Couscous salad with chunks of cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes and chickpeas!! So good and mayo-free!
Well it’s not my favorite YET, but I am going to try your summer sangria recipe this weekend and I am excited!
Good old fashioned potato salad always reminds me of summer BBQs! Made with greek yogurt instead of mayo of course!
My favorite summer recipe is grilled shrimp kebabs with avacado and lime marinade!
My favorite summer recipe is a salad made with cubed watermelon, fresh tomatoes, feta cheese, arugula and mint! Weird, but satisfyingly sweet, savory, and refreshing.
I love caprese in summer!
I think baked beans are a summer must have.
I make a cauliflower salad that my kids love. It is basically a potato salad but with cauliflower in place of potatoes. And I make my dressing with greek yogurt.
I love Deviled Eggs. I think it’s great picnic food
I love to make fresh salsa and guacamole for dipping and putting on burgers.
My favorite summer recipe is swordfish on the grill
My favorite summer food is just simple and easy grilled corn on the cob!
I love summer picnics. I especially love fruit salads!!!
my favourite is anything with watermelon!
just bought one and am ready to slice it up!
Cold pasta salad…and of course watermelon and grilled corn on the cob
I love the subbing of Greek yogurt for the mayo! My life has changed for the better since I’ve made that move.
My favorite “recipe” of the summer is anything that is cooked on the grill!
Fruit salad.
I love grilling up bananas and then serving them over ice cream….so good
My mom’s black bean salsa with peppers, lime juice, cilantro, corn, tomato…SO GOOD
My favorite is my twist on macaroni salad! First I use Barilla Plus Elbow Macaroni(91) then substitute the usual mayo amount with 3/4 Chobani No Fat Plain Yogurt(94), and 1/4 Kraft Reduced Fat Mayo with Olive Oil. Then I add in Shrimp (75) and some Old Bay. It’s light, delicious and a perfect summer side!
Tina, I’d love to know the score for the Kraft Reduced Fat Mayo with Olive Oil, whenever you get a chance!
Fresh fruit salad with a drizzle of balsamic. Very refreshing.
Berry crisps and pico de gallo with made with fresh local tomatoes for me.
My favorite summer recipe has to be pasta salad. I usually make it with about 1/3 pasta to 2/3rds fresh veggies (peppers, carrots, shallots, cherry tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, etc), some homemade roasted garlic vinaigrette, some onion powder, lots of black pepper and half a container of non-fat Greek yogurt for the tangy lusciousness. Sometimes if I want to make a meal out of it, I’ll throw in a can or two of drained tuna in water.
Yum!
I love a good fresh fruit salad!
I love potato salad!
Any kind of cold pasta salad, and fruit salad!
When it comes to summer recipes, I think you gotta trust me when I say I know what’s going on, I live in Singapore. Summer is not only summer, summer is also winter and autumn and spring; there is only summer.
I think the best summer treat is “Ice-Kachang”, which is basically shaved ice over red beans, sweet corn and jelly. No but that’s not all, it is topped with beautifully rich ad creamy condensed milk, and coloured sugar syrup. Healthy, not exactly, but it epitomises summer.
More details: http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/dining/signature-dishes/ice-kachang.html
Homemade veggie burgers on the grill. Preferably with homemade BBQ sauce. YUM!
Fresh melon fruit salad!
Overnight oats are my favorite summer food. I love the yogurt and oats combo, especially with Stoneyfield yogurts. Mmm.
I LOVE cucumbers and cream!!! Thanks for the opportunity!
I like cool bulgar with tomatoes a mint to cool me off in the summer!
I love to make orzo salad – orzo, cherry tomatoes, basil, feta, red wine vinegar – YUM
Pasta salad with tri color pasta, peppers, broccoli and olives with good seasons dressing and pram cheese…..yummy!
spicy grilled ahi tuna with mango salsa