Potato salad and pasta salad are classic summer sides, but both can raise questions for people trying to manage blood sugar. Because they are often seen as high-carb dishes, many assume they should be avoided altogether at picnics and barbecues.

According to the EatingWell report, dietitians say that is not necessarily the case. The article suggests you do not have to automatically pick one over the other if blood sugar is a concern, and that the answer is more nuanced than simply labeling potatoes or pasta as the better choice.

A key factor appears to be portion size, which the snippet highlights directly. Instead of treating either salad as off-limits, the more practical approach is to consider how much you are eating and how the dish fits into the rest of the meal.

The overall takeaway is that watching blood sugar does not always mean skipping familiar cookout favorites. For many people, potato salad and pasta salad can still have a place on the plate when eaten thoughtfully and in reasonable amounts.