Picnic Salads

Here's a few healthy salads to go with your Labor Day BBQ.

Summer Tomato, Onion & Cucumber Salad
Makes: 6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each
Prep Time: 50 minutes (including 30 minutes marinating time)

Ingredients
3 - tablespoons rice vinegar
1 - tablespoon canola oil
1 - teaspoon honey
1/2 - teaspoon salt
1/2 - teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 - medium cucumbers
4 - medium tomatoes, cut into 1/2 inch wedges
1 - sweet onion, halved and very thinly sliced
2 - tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh tarragon

Directions
1. Whisk vinegar, oil, honey, salt and pepper in a large shallow bowl.
2. Take fork prongs and run them down the sides of cucumber to make a stripped decoration.
3. Sliced cucumber into thins rounds. Add the cucumber slices, tomatoes and onion to the dressing; gently toss to combine.
4. Let stand at room temperature for a least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
5. Just before serving, add fresh tarragon and toss.

Per serving: 58 calories; 3g fat; 0mg cholesterol; 8g carbs; 1g sugars; 1g protein; 2 g fiber; 202mg sodium


Country Potato Salad
Makes: 8 servings, about 1 cup each
Prep Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients
2 - pounds small potatoes
1 - cup chopped celery
1/4 - cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 - cup sliced green onions
2 - tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 - tablespoons minced carrots
3/4 - cup nonfat buttermilk
1 - tablespoon lemon juice
1 - tablespoon canola oil
1/2 - teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions
1. Place potatoes in large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook, partially covered, until just tender, 12 to 20 minutes, depending on their size. Drain and let cool for about 15 minutes.
2. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle cut into bite-size pieces and put them in a large salad bowl.
3. Add celery, onions, carrots, parsley and dill to potatoes. Toss to combine.
4. In small bowl combine buttermilk, lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Pour over potato salad and toss gently. Chill before serving.

Per Serving: 139 calories; 4g fat; 1g sat; 2g Mono; 58mg cholesterol; 20g carbs; 6g protein; 2g fiber; 272mg sodium