Although some types of salad are low in calories, macaroni salad generally is not. Macaroni salad typically contains high-calorie ingredients such as pasta and mayonnaise, so check nutrition facts label carefully if you are counting calories and fat.
Calories
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A 1-cup serving of macaroni salad contains about 373 calories. This represents nearly 19 percent of your calories if you follow a typical 2,000-calorie daily diet.
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Fat
Macaroni salad is high in fat, with 1 cup containing about 7 grams. Also, keep in mind that full-fat mayonnaise typically used in macaroni salad is high in saturated fat, a type of fat that can increase your risk of heart disease. Adults age 19 and older should keep their fat intakes to between 20 and 35 percent of their daily calories, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010.
Carbohydrates and Protein
Macaroni salad is rich in carbohydrates. Each cup of macaroni salad contains 53 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber and 1 gram of sugar. Macaroni salad is not a rich source of protein, as it contains about 9 grams of this nutrient.