Replacement for salad dressing?

cmg2008

I like salads but what I love even more is drowing my salad in ranch dressing :noway: . So I want to know what you guys use as an healthier alternative to salad dressing? Do you have any DIY or any suggestions??

iwillbeoneday

Salsa is a great alternative that you can add a lot to your salad without hurting your calorie count. Also if you like to add fruit to your salad, I highly recommend fat free poppyseed dressing. It is amazing!

vaughny

sprinkle a little bit of ranch seasoning from a ranch packet on your salad and drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil on it toss it together, Or use a tub of cottage cheese in the blender a lil water and a ranch packet blend together put on salad ta da!

KayaSamantha

A little bit of Ranch seasoning with fat free sour cream (20 cals/ 2 tbs!!!).

alohabrie

I make a lemon dijon dressing with lemon zest, lemon juice (lots), a dab of dijon mustard and a glob (technical term here) of garlic oiive oil. Whisk together - much less fat and calories and it is really yummy. Goes great with shrimp salads!

Barbj56

I use olive oil and different types of vinegar. One tsp. oil to one Tbsp. vinegar. Also, I always ask for oil and vinegar packets for my Subway salad. Usually they give me more than I use so the extra packets go in a ziploc bag in my purse for the times when o&v isn't available.

cmg2008

Thanks everyone!

jkldsmom

I top salads with fruit juice instead of salad dressing and other times I use mustard (its like a sandwich without the bread).

Katie3784

I do not totally nix the dressing, I just use a lot less of it and I use either low fat or fat free. I 1/2 serving(1 tbsp) of either Hidden Valley Light buttermilk ranch dressing, or Ken's fat free honey mustard. I am a firm believer in everything in moderation.

kimi131

love these ideas!

tmt2003

Franks red hot buffalo sauce is zero calories, I add that to my ranch fat free ranch - doubles the amount of dressing I can have without adding any calories!

stevwil41

Try this. It's out of a Quick and Healthy cookbook.

1 package (.4 oz) ranch style dressing mix
1/2 c nonfat plain yogurt
1/2 c reduced calorie mayo
1 pint buttermilk

In a larg bowl, blend package with yogurt and mayo. Mix in buttermilk. This stores in the refrigerator for several weeks and yields 3 cups. Per the recipe 1 Tbl has 14 calories. The consistency is thinner than bottled dressing but the taste is pretty much the same.

JWeaser

Check your grocery store for a line of dressings made by Walden Farms. No Fat, No Calories, No Carbs, No Sugars and they are really good. We get the Ranch, Bacon Ranch, and Bleu Cheese. They make a Cesar too.

killagb

Balsamic vinaigrettes aren't too bad and you can make your own too.

wolfpack111

fat free buffalo sauce especially with grilled chicken yum!

stevwil41

sprinkle a little bit of ranch seasoning from a ranch packet on your salad and drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil on it toss it together, Or use a tub of cottage cheese in the blender a lil water and a ranch packet blend together put on salad ta da!

I hadn't thought of this one! I'm going to have to try it!

adagolden

Check your grocery store for a line of dressings made by Walden Farms. No Fat, No Calories, No Carbs, No Sugars and they are really good. We get the Ranch, Bacon Ranch, and Bleu Cheese. They make a Cesar too.

Ditto to the Walden Farms. I love the chipotle ranch and its a great dip or salad dressing and you don't feel guilty about using lots of it.

Jackie_Snape80

I personally love Ortega taco sauce on my salads. That or some mild salsa with a bit of pepper and hot sauce. Also, warm marinara taste great with some garlic and diced tomatoes. ...now I want some salad :S

jwaters1006

i like the wishbone sprays

tropicalicyicy

I too looove ranch dressing too but i feel like it's just extra calories and sodium and i don't like the fat free too much either (lots of sodium too) but i use these Salad Spritzers by Wishbone that are spray dressing. 10 sprays is a serving which is only 10 calories and 85 mg of sodium and pretty much nothing else. of course i use more than 10 sprays..about 20 or 25 but it's still healthier than any other dressings out there. i use the caeser delight one but i know they have balsamic vinaigrette (which i have tried and it's good!) and italian too, i think they might have some more but i'm not totally sure. i definitely recommend them if you are looking for a lower calorie & sodium dressing that still tastes great!!

Shaylala

I ADORE creamy dressings but Fat Free Ranch is GROSS! I do a couple things: I will mix 1/2 salsa, 1/2 ranch which makes it creamy or add water to my dressing (my SIL taught me that), you can use the cerviche mixture if you like tangy like that, or just plain salsa! You can also add a little fat free cottage cheese Good luck!

cmg2008

Franks red hot buffalo sauce is zero calories, I add that to my ranch fat free ranch - doubles the amount of dressing I can have without adding any calories!

I love love franks red hot sauce! I'll definetely have to try that!

emilyc92

Definitely look for the Walden Farms dressings! My favorite is the raspberry vinaigrette. It's really good!

milaxx

I have fun with this. The basic recipe is 3:1 so if you use olive & vinegar use tbsp olive oil to 1tsp vinegar. Experiment with different flavor vinegars. I sometime even use pickle juice from the pickle jar . Other subs are instead of olive oil I use and egg yolk from a hard boiled egg, or a bit of smashed avocado. I will also use sesame oil instead of olive oil. Add a bit of plain yogurt for a creamy texture. Add whatever seasonings and spices you have on hand, I sometimes add chopped garlic & even a dab of local honey. Salsa makes a great topping as well.make your favorite fruit dressing by adding some smashed berries to your basic oil/vinegar recipe. I splurged on a expensive bottle of fig vinegar and it was so flavorful I could top a salad with half a tbsp of that and enjoy. A bit of mustard to your oil/vinegar dressings also add a nice flavor. You just want to whisk it really well to get it emulsified. Your basic oil/vinegar will turn opaque and the yogurt or avocado dressings should be whisked until they take on a creamy texture.

I haven't bought a bottle of dressing in months and cut out loads of artificial crap as well as cut down on sodium and sugar. It has also made me buy other greens/lettuces so that I can appreciate the taste of the salad and not just drink salad dressing.

TerezaToledo

How about dipping your fork in the ranch dressing and then forking the salad. You will get the real ranch taste, only less in each bite.

karenkwalker

Walden Farms makes a no calorie salad dressing. It's usually above the bags of lettuce in the produce section. It does have sodium so you still need to watch how much you are using - but it really helps for the calories. Also if you put your dressing on the side in a little deep bowl - you can dip your fork in before you put lettuce on your fork - this gives you the salad dressing taste with each bite - but you will eat far less of the dressing. Good luck!

lolitsangela

I use Maple Grove Farms of Vermont Fat Free Caeser. It's only 10 calories for two tablespoons, and there's so much flavor that I usually only end up using one!

tjradd73

Walden Farms makes a ZERO cal ranch dressing....I will give it a 6 out of 10...otherwise fat free Italian is pretty low and pretty tasty...or fat free catalina is good too!

ThePhoenixRose

I love pineapple juice on my salads. Really Yummy!

littlemili

Old school balsamic vinegar with salt and pepper, and if I want to add more calories a bit of olive oil. You use less if you toss the salad properly in it before plating up, rather than adding it on top afterwards.

wedjul05

I just use extra virgin oil oil, touch of balsamic, lemon juice, pepper and rock salt. Love it.