300+ Club - Looking for Reduced Fat, Increased Flavor Pasta Salad Ideas

How do you make a healthy, creamy pasta salad? I am doing Weight Watchers and have been scouring the net for a 6-8 PointsPlus Crab Salad but can't find one that looks appealing. Help!!!!

Non-fat yogurt would probably be a good way to go for the sauce, and skip any butter or cream.

Or, ditch the pasta entirely and substitute some sort of veggie with body and keep the sauce. I use spaghetti squash under my favorite pasta sauces. I've also done things like shred cabbage and sautee it, "riced" cauliflower and used it in place of rice, thin slices of eggplant pan seared, summer squashes work nice as well if you just par boil them.

You could also split the difference and use half the amount of pasta, plus some extra veggies for volume. It really depends on what sort of pasta salad you are going for.

Basically, pasta has a HUGE calorie count (and weight watchers point count) so unless you are willing to make some drastic changes to recipes, you probably aren't going to find exactly what you are looking for.

I think this recipe is delicious!!!! It's from skinnytaste.

Macaroni Salad with Tomatoes

Servings: 7 • Size: 3/4 cup • Time: 15 minutes •Points+: 3 pts

* 6 oz uncooked elbows (I used Ronzoni Smart Taste)
* 2 medium tomatoes, diced
* 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
* 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
* 1 tbsp white vinegar
* dash garlic powder
* 1 tsp oregano
* 2.5 oz sliced black olives
* salt and pepper


Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.

In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, tomatoes (and any juice from the tomato), olives, onion, garlic powder, oregano salt and pepper. Mix well. Add elbows and mix well.

I never use mayonaise or anything in my pasta salads. One of my favorite recipes for a pasta salad is this one:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetarian-recipes/the-best-pasta-salad
Obviously I don't use that much olive oil. I usually go by 1-2 tsp per person/portion.

Thanks ladies!

I would use greek yogurt as a base for whatever dressing you are going to make...and I second the veggie salad vs. pasta salad.