Salad Dressing intervention needed!

HeatherShrinking

Anyone know any decent tasting salad dressings that are lower in calories?

I just an entire bag of lettuce (60 calories for 8 cups according to the bag) with 3 tablespoons of Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch Dressing. 3 tablespoons = 225 calories! This just seems nuts to me. The salad wasn't anywhere near soaking in dressing either. Help!

kelika71

Two things I do: Either pico de gallo...low calorie and low sodium.
The other is using lime juice in a spray bottle and Mrs. Dash's seasonings. Quite a number of choices to change it up a lot.

The last one, I don't even log when I do it because virtually no cals or sodium.

TonyaJ83

I stopped using salad dressing years ago! I add avocado, strawberries, tomatoes, corn, beans, cilantro, things like that. It doesn't need dressing! So moist and flavorful. IF I do dressing. I shake lemon juice and a bit of olive oil together.

Nomomush

If you like the dressing and want to keep it, you can decrease how much you use by having the dressing on the side....then for each bit you take, dip your fork in the side dressing then pick up the food with same fork. This technique reduces your dressing intake by 2/3. You'll get the flavor of the dressing in each bit but with much less dressing...hence less calories.

Hope this helps.

SabrinaJL

I just picked up some really yummy dressing yesterday. It's Marie's Yogurt Dressing. It has half the fat and cals of regular dressing and I thought it was just as good. I tried the blue cheese one and will definitely be trying the others. I was honestly a little skeptical because I'm not a big fan of lite dressings, but I loved it.

alazarus

I go a little nuts with ranch dressing, so I feel your pain!

I switched to fat free Italian dressing: 3 tablespoons = 23 calories.

Also, watch out for veinger-and-oil type dressings, which seem healthier at first, but really aren't. The vinegar's fine, but the oil is what kills your diet. 1 tablespoon of olive oil is 120 calories-- yikes. I started using a salt, sugar, water, vinegar mix on salads instead.

soccermom004

I use the wishbone spray dressing

drog2323

Renee's Gourmet - roasted red pepper. it's found in the refrigerated section.

TamDTam

Make your own....balsamic vinegar & olive oil ... add in a twist of lemon & some Mrs Dash or Italian seasoning

Sden1231

I like avocado and salsa on my salad

katevonr

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Newman's Own - Lighten Up! line of salad dressings. Most flavors are around 45 calories for 2Tb and they are very robust. My two favorites are the honey mustard and roasted garlic balsamic vinagerette.

tinboy

I recently found: "Follow Your Heart" brand low fat ranch dressing. Egg free, gluten free, no cholesterol, no preservatives. 25 cal/2 Tbsp (30 grams). It doesn't taste as good as regular ranch, of course, but it is much better than no dressing, and it is awesome calories!

liberty741

If I am going to use a dressing, I like these combinations. Just be careful on the amount of EVOO you use!

Olive Oil and Lemon Juice
Olive Oil and Pomegranate Vinegar
Olive Oil and Red Wine Vinegar

If I want something creamy, or thicker, I like Ken's or Newman's low fat dressings. Wegman's also has some great ones!

If you love ranch dressing or dip, try getting the Hidden valley Ranch powder (dip) packs and mixing them with fat free sour cream or greek yogurt. I do this for parties and no one knows the difference. PLus, it tastes less processed than other ranch dips.

MB_Positif

I stopped using salad dressing years ago! I add avocado, strawberries, tomatoes, corn, beans, cilantro, things like that. It doesn't need dressing! So moist and flavorful. IF I do dressing. I shake lemon juice and a bit of olive oil together.

Agreed....FLAVOR it up with yummy healthy stuff so you don't need the dressing I do sometimes use Ken's Steakhouse Lite Raspberry Pomegranate Dressing. Looking to create some of my own dressings with much less sugar than the ones out there

Kellidianne

If you like the dressing and want to keep it, you can decrease how much you use by having the dressing on the side....then for each bit you take, dip your fork in the side dressing then pick up the food with same fork. This technique reduces your dressing intake by 2/3. You'll get the flavor of the dressing in each bit but with much less dressing...hence less calories.

Hope this helps.

I just did the same thing at lunch and it REALLY works!

eilermbl

I really like Kraft's Red Roasted Pepper Italian Dressing with Parmesean.. 2 tablespoons=1 serving=40 calories!

spaztastic13

I only use hidden valley light ranch and light honey mustard and do the serving size which is 2 tbs and it works out great for me.....!!!!!

christinaprice

I love Caesar and Italian dressing.. Of course, the caloric content is awful!! I tried the Ken's Lite Caesar and love it!!

marklb127

Try maple grove farms of vermont, Fat Free Balsamic. Good and low cal.

daliberti

I've been using Litehouse Organic Raspberry Lime Viniagrette dressing. It has 40 calories for 2 tablespoons, 2.5g fat, 60mg sodium, and 5 carbs. It's VERY tasty and a lot of times I"ll only use 1 tablespoon to save on calories if I need to.

nehtaeh

It depends on the salad. I do like the lite vinaigarettes out there. I really just like vinegar and just get that if I get a subway salad - or even on my sub. I will do some lemon juice and maybe salt/pepper but not always. Salsa is my friend - especially if its the fresh made kind. I could just throw some salsa on lettuce and be fine.

kajun_at_work

Kraft - Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing - 2 TBSP - 90 calories

sparrow747

When I was an undergrad, my host mother in France taught me how to make a French vinaigrette and I've used it ever since:

For one serving:

1 tsp. dijon mustard (any brand, but Trader Joe's sells an authentic tasting, SPICY dijon!)
2-3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar (I prefer the most expensive - haha its $5 tops - that Trader Joe's sells, it's nice and sweet)
1 tbsp. olive oil
minced garlic or shallots to taste
dash pepper, rosemary, thyme

I've never even calculated this calorie wise, but it's so tasty and fresh with any salad -- beware can really clear your sinuses out too!

TonyaJ83

I like avocado and salsa on my salad

Sounds BOMB! I'm gonna do salsa next time!

minicakeumz

I use Lucerne chive cottage cheese (90 cals for half a cup) or sometimes I use the balsamic vinagrette dressing in spray form which is 1 calorie for each spray.

rosieg0402

lemon & pepper seasoning OR Canadian Steak seasoning with LEMON!

justnname

I don't like most of the "light salad dressing" but I found Bolthouse Farms Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette is one of the better ones

its only 15 calories and 3 sugars.

mariasfitness

Kraft Salad Dressing - Light Balsamic Vinaigrette is delishious and 2tbs is 25 calories.

RoadDog

Bernstein's - Light Fantastic Parmesan Garlic Ranch, 2 tbsp -- 50 Calories

I throw my salad in a large bowl, then dress it. Mix it up real good in the bowl. Covers it better and allows for more flavor and less dressing.

rodneyderrick

I buy the low fat Ranch salad dressing that's about 80 calories for two tablespoons. I usually pour the dressing into a small bowl, and dip my fork into it, and then dip my fork into my salad. I don't eat salads that much these days, but I know that dressings can mess up a diet plan.

punkrockmama

Do a google search for healthy dressing recipes. You'll find so many awesome recipes. And homemade dressing is Sooooouch yummier and way easier than you'd think!