salad dressing substitues/salad ideas?

misseseaj2010

I have been having salads for dinner every night with everything added they end up being between 300-500 cal. depending on how many calories I need.

Right now I have fat free ranch, but after it's gone I'm not gonna buy that anymore, I know there are healthier options. In the past I used fresh salsa. I was thinking maybe reduced fat sour cream? or mixing a partial pack of ranch seasoning with the sour cream? What dressing substitutes do you put on your salad?

I have been putting ham (but it has too much sodium), cilantro, tomato, iceburg mix with carrots and cabbage, (I know that's not the most nutritious, which is?), and sometimes I put 1 serving of sprinkle cheese, 1-2 servings of bacon bits, chopped mushroom and green onions, 1/2 a serving of popcorn shrimp. What else would be good in a salad?

Any suggestions for seasonings/spices to put on my salad?

BrofessorDumbelldore

You will never get jacked on salad

Use all them greens to feed a animal, then eat it

carrieous

iceberge lettuce is devoid of nutrition. Any other lettuce would be better for you.

as far as dressing i wouldnt mess with any fat free chemical sh*tstorms. I eat regular dressing, just put it on lightly. If you arent comfortable with that you can do vinegar and oil.

graceylou222

I like lettuce, mozzarella cheese, olives, peppers, tomatoes, with a greek dressing. you could also do a vinegerette.... hummos... fresh salsa like you said is delicious!

tpittsley77

I either buy fruity salsas, like pineapple mango for example. If you have a wegmans around you, or any good grocery store, they usually have some great dressings in the produce section. I buy a ranch dressing made out of greek yogurt. It's only 70 cals for 2 T. And there are no chemical ingredients. Or There is a raspberry cherry vinagrette that is 60 cals for 2 T. Also no fillers. They aren't "fat free" or low fat, so there aren't any chemical additives.

KJoy7

I use cottage cheese as salad dressing all the time It's really good. :drinker:

melsinct

I don't do fat free dressings. They are loaded with sugar and sodium to make up for the lack of fat. I use reduced amounts of full fat dressings with natural ingredients or other options:

I mix equal parts salsa and sour cream for a creamy dressing for my taco salad

Oil and vinegar: simple, homemade, cheap

As you mentioned, you can mix ranch seasoning packet with sour cream or Greek yogurt. Let it sit for a while in the fridge to let the flavors meld

meeper123

This is by far the best salad dressing i have ever made:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon basalmic vineager ( apple or any vineager really is yummy)
juice from one lemon or lime

Just dump on a salad and mix

Take 3 seconds to do is way cheaper than premade and dont get me started on how much lower cals and sodium it is

rach503

I eat a salad every day for lunch: organic baby lettuces, slivered almonds, about a dozen craisens, fat free feta, an apple, and Newman's Light Balsamic Vinagrette. I love it!

I wish the dressing were lighter in sodium, but you can get a pretty filling salad for about 250 - 300 calories. On weekends I make my own dressing sometimes with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, but it's a bit too much to do during the work week. If I have any extra fruit (strawberries, raspberries) I'll throw them in too. It's easy to throw together and it looks "fancy", makes it feel like a nice meal out, only without the price. Also, if I'm just eating the salad (usually I have a side of roast veggies too) I'll throw an avocado on top too.

Flixie00

I dropped salad dressing for lemon juice, but now only bother with that if the salad is dry. I had a salad at Toss'd today, the server looked at me like I was a loony when I said no dressing, but the salad included tuna and avocado so was fine.

rainbowbow

who so many salads? I would get tired of that. Besides, where's the protein?

Anyway.... really like zesty italian. I will sometimes mix some olive oil, lemon juice, and chop a few pepperacinnis up and a tad bit of dijon. whisk whisk whisk whisk whisk.

TADA!

CEHayes73

Make your own vinaigrette. It's actually very easy. I like sunflower seeds and tuna on mine. Or left over roast chicken, or grilled chicken breast, I also like fruit, grapes, or raisins, or chopped apples. Oh, the options are endless!

ZyheeMoongazer

My salads are always a mix and match of whatever veggies I have in the house at the time. Big bed of lettuce (normally spring mix or baby kales) and topped with chopped veggies (peppers, onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, etc)

I have traded most of my salad dressings in for red wine vinegar. It has no calories and gives the salad a little bite. Sometimes I don't put anything on at all and just eat the veggies plain.

My boyfriend likes to top his with cottage cheese, sometimes hot sauce.

here2bme

Hot sauce all the way! The hotter the better! I sometimes use a balsamic vinaigrette too, but only when there is not any good hot sauce around

missymakayla

If you like vinegar, you can try Balsamic vinegar( only 5 cal per serving) I like to have chicken, fish, and even crab cake on my salads every once in a while....

silverinc13

For lettuce you can switch to romaine - it has a similar crunch to iceberg but much more nutritious! I like to mix a 1/2 and 1/2 blend of that and mixed baby greens so there is still some texture in my lettuce. A nice ripe avocado diced up and then shook around in a salad container will make a nice creamy "dressing" type situation on a salad! It's a really delicious and healthy addition especially with some salsa for a little liquid juice.

sophiep90x

Trader Joes pear gorgonzola dressing has changed my ideas about salad forever!! 45 cals for 2 T and really delicious

DBubbs

My new favorite is the Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings. The ranch flavored dressing is only 45 calories and 3 grams of fat for 2 tablespoons, and it is so delicious. - Some mornings I have it for breakfast on sliced tomatoes. I love, love, love it. Wish I had discovered it sooner.

Boiled eggs and cottage cheese (low-fat) are good ways to add flavor and protein. Adding a sprinkle of nutritional yeast (not bread yeast) is a good option to replace shredded cheese, as it has a cheese-like flavor to it. And, as far as lettuce is concerned, I generally use iceberg, but I love romaine as well. It's tasty and good for getting in your daily allowance of leafy greens.

LindaEmrys

Don't start on the ''fat free'' dressings, they're even unhealthier than regular dressings.

Try varying on what kind of lettuce and vegetables you use. You can add in corn, beans, carrots, paprika, cucumber, mushrooms, tomatoes, apples and many more which you can combine with cooked rice, pasta or a few potatoes. How about salmon, tuna or chicken? There are so many options, why not experiment a little? That way you won't get bored with your salads, it works for me. As for dressings, I usually use balsamic-vinegar with a little salt, black pepper and olive oil. Or if I'm in need of something sweet, I'll just use regular dressing, though smaller in quantity, but a lot tastier. Good luck!

TheWiseCat

I find bacon fat is an ample substitute for salad dressing.

meeper123

Hot sauce all the way! The hotter the better! I sometimes use a balsamic vinaigrette too, but only when there is not any good hot sauce around

Lol hot sauce on salad i have to try