Healthy Substitutes for ranch dressing?

theguy12
theguy12 Posts: 156
in Food and Nutrition
I love ranch but it's obviously not in my diet plan. What are some healthy alternatives I can buy at the store (not make myself)?

P.S. I DON'T LIKE - balsamic, italian, blue cheese, thousand island, or honey mustard, or oil/vinegar.
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Replies

  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I'd give the making it yourself thing a try, but if youre not willing they make a nice tasting spray ranch I think it's wish bone. You have to spray it, saves a few calories, and is pretty flavorful.
  • 50racinggirl
    50racinggirl Posts: 96 Member
    Try some Walden Farms dressings and/or sauces. They are zero everything. Don't get the ranch because it's disgusting. I use the sauces and dressings and LOTS of stuff.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    For a salad, try putting some more flavorful stuff on the salad itself. Pepperocinis, etc.

    For a dip, I use fat free black bean dip from Trader Joe's.
  • charlasaulsberycalicott
    charlasaulsberycalicott Posts: 2
    I have made my own. And my husband loves it, who is pretty much anti-healthy. Anyway, I take a regular tub of 2% cottage cheese and a packet of ranch dressing. I put it in a blender with a little water depending on how thick or thin you want it. That's it!! It tastes really good.
  • MrsBingley
    MrsBingley Posts: 145
    Mix a hidden valley ranch packet with greek yogurt instead of sour cream (or you could go halvsies with the sour cream)
  • luveeyore21
    luveeyore21 Posts: 12
    There is a newer dressing made w yogurt. The name is Bolthouse it's usually in the refrigerated part by the ready to eat lettuce bags. They have a lot of different flavors less fat and only 45 calories per serving. It tastes good too...lol
  • PumpJockeyy
    PumpJockeyy Posts: 98 Member
    Walden Farms.
  • Tiznonay
    Tiznonay Posts: 124 Member
    yeah, there's lots of good low-cal ranches out there. I use Marie's Light Creamy Ranch. I find it delicious, and it's only 30 calories per tablespoon
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    I like the Bolthouse yogurt ranch, but if it's not your bag the cottage cheese + ranch mix is also pretty good (though better as a dip than a dressing).
  • sandobr1
    sandobr1 Posts: 319 Member
    Salsa, or salsa mixed with ranch, lighten it up a bit. I find if I measure out salad dressing which is usually 2tbls per serving and mix well it is enough, just mark it fit in my goals for the day.
  • nytrifisoul
    nytrifisoul Posts: 499 Member
    Try this....1/2 light ranch, 1/4 fat free ranch, 1/4 light sour cream or 1/2 light ranch, 1/2 light sour cream. It will seriously cut back on the calories without tasting like crap. I love using 1/2 kens reserve blue cheese and 1/2 light sour cream for dipping buffalo wings.
  • jhmomofmany
    jhmomofmany Posts: 571 Member
    This is what I use:

    1 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt
    2 Tbsp real mayonnaise
    splash Bragg's raw Apple Cider Vinegar
    1/4 tsp (more or less) Real Salt
    1tsp (or to taste) original Mrs. Dash

    Per 2 TBSP serving (according to MFP database) 46 cals; 1 carb, 3 fat, 3 pro
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,965 Member
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/ranch-dressing-recipe_n_3769342.html

    This recipe is pretty light. 3/4 cups buttermilk to 2 tablespoon each of sour cream and mayo + herbs.

    So that's 60 cals for 180 ml buttermilk, 61 for 30 g full fat sour cream, 216 for 30 g full fat mayonnaise. You could cut down further by using light mayo and sour cream. I normally do something similar with respect to buttermilk to fat proportions but make it easier by adding garlic powder, dried oregano and salt instead of the fresh herbs and garlic.
  • samantha1242
    samantha1242 Posts: 816 Member
    I make my own with plain greek yogurt or light sour cream mixed with a bit of the hidden valley ranch mix. I use this more so when I want to dip something in ranch.

    If I am using it for more of a dressing, I love the Bolthouse Farms yogurt ranches, they are a lighter option and are delicious.
  • laurelobrien
    laurelobrien Posts: 156 Member
    home made mayo!
  • lngrunert
    lngrunert Posts: 204 Member
    Another vote for Bolthouse Farms!
  • marshmallow8978
    marshmallow8978 Posts: 57 Member
    I love ranch, I buy the simply dressed light ranch (Marie's) usually - 1tbs is 35 calls, or I just bought a new Greek yogurt ranch called litehouse opa which is only 30/tbsp. but I don't like it as much as Marie's .
  • gingabebe
    gingabebe Posts: 165 Member
    I love ranch but it's obviously not in my diet plan. What are some healthy alternatives I can buy at the store (not make myself)?

    P.S. I DON'T LIKE - balsamic, italian, blue cheese, thousand island, or honey mustard, or oil/vinegar.

    The ones you don't like are all my favorites, sorry no help here.
  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    How about cutting it with yogurt? 1 TBSP dressing mixed with 1 or 2 TBSP yogurt (FAGE 2% Plain is probably the most neutral tasting) ...

    OR, quit being lazy and buy a packet of dressing mix ... make it with half sour cream (full fat) half 2% FAGE, and a splash of milk to thin it out if desired ... it will take all of 5 minutes (at the most) ...
  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    .
  • s_ireland1970
    s_ireland1970 Posts: 7 Member
    That sounds fantastic!! Thanks for the idea!
  • s_ireland1970
    s_ireland1970 Posts: 7 Member
    That's a great idea too! Never thought of mixing the two. I will definitely try that! Thanks.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Less quantity?
  • kpwilliams73089
    kpwilliams73089 Posts: 9 Member
    For a light snack, I will eat baby carrots and dip them in the Hidden Valley Ranch powder. You get all the flavor w/o the fat.
  • MandyMason7
    MandyMason7 Posts: 185 Member
    Get the Bolthouse farms yogurt ranch dressing. That stuff is delicious and only 45 calories for 2 tablespoons. I am a ranch fiend and I love that dressing!
  • tiffdunaway
    tiffdunaway Posts: 3 Member
    I love Ranch dressing. There is no healthy substitution in my opinion, so I just have a small amount. My favorite brand is O'Charley's 1 Tablespoon=55 calories.
  • deanronaldhayes
    deanronaldhayes Posts: 18
    Here you go....

    0% fat plain Greek Yogurt
    Add dill spice
    Add olive oil (or camelina oil is a nice healthy choice too)
    Add a squeeze of lemon (zing)
    Add garlic and onion powder
    Add chives and parsley (from your own herb garden?)
    Add pepper (freshly ground of course)
    Add diced sun dried tomatoes
    Add diced dehydrated red and green pepper (yes, take some time and bake some slowly at 200 with the oven door slightly ajar)

    Let sit in fridge for .... hmmmm, at least 24 hours.

    If you need to: add some dry buttermilk / salt / and/or Parmesan cheese .... but I wouldn't. Maybe add some skim milk if its toooo thick.

    Don't ask me how much of each because I just made this up, looks good on the drawing board though :)
    If someone tries, please message me your amounts and thoughts. I think I will give it a go.

    Side note: boycott Kellogs, that stuff is frankenfood.
  • Kiyalynn
    Kiyalynn Posts: 128 Member
    Skip the Ranch Dressing and use the calories you save to put Fresh BACON in the salad. Yum... bacon.

    Seriously, I have a awesome salad recipe, with tons of vegetables eggs, bacon, cheese. I can eat TWO large bowls for 400 calories! I don't even use the 'bacon bit' things but literally cook fresh bacon to put in, put enough good stuff in the salad and you don't need the super high calorie nutritionally deficient flavors.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    Another vote for buying a mix and using Greek yogurt instead of the sour cream.
  • alexandriax03
    alexandriax03 Posts: 289 Member
    chobani plain greek yogurt mixed with hidden valley ranch powder

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