Three words of advice for this weekend’s cookout.

Hold. The. Mayo.

Nothing beats the traditional summer weekend cookout, especially here in Madison when summer seems to fly by so quickly.

So the grills heat up, and the delectable dining takes over. Of course, there are lots of special little extras — condiments — that can add up pretty quick.

Let’s take a look at how just two tablespoons of various condiments add up:

Ketchup: 30

Yellow mustard: 0

Dijon mustard: 28

Honey mustard: 20

Sweet pickle relish: 39

Mayo: 180

Hot sauce (like Frank’s or Tobasco): 0

Fresh salsa: 20

Sauerkraut: 5

One slice of American cheese: 94

Did the mayo jump out at you? It should. At a whopping 180 calories, ask yourself if it’s really worth it. (Hey, sometimes it is. We’ve all been there.)

Instead, opt for mustards, fresh produce like tomatoes and dark green lettuce, and almost any kind of hot sauce or salsa.

This weekend, enjoy the wonderful foods of the season and be sure to include lots of fruits and veggies. But be careful with needless extra calories. Just remember those three little words: Hold the mayo.

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