An easy way to use less salad dressing

redwngs13
redwngs13 Posts: 194 Member
edited September 24 in Food and Nutrition
I've been eating a lot of salads lately, and I have found an easy way to cut the amount of dressing that I use. I will prepare my salad in a container that has a lid, put about a tablespoon of dressing in there, place the lid and shake, shake, shake. It always evenly distributes the dressing so each piece of lettuce has some on it, which eliminates the need to pour a ton of dressing on the top. I would recommend that if you put cheese onto your salad to add that after you've shaken it up, because I've noticed that when I do put cheese and shake it, all the cheese will clump together. :)

Replies

  • RoniDoll
    RoniDoll Posts: 262
    This is what I do! It works!
  • ashley0616
    ashley0616 Posts: 579 Member
    I used to do that at college! We had one vegan dorm and they had the BEST salads in their dining hall. They had lids there available just for that purpose...it's so smart and you use SO much less! Great tip!
  • msnodgrass81
    msnodgrass81 Posts: 3
    i always measure it and put in a dish on the side. Then i dip my fork into that dish. This way works because it's measured and controled.
  • amyrc12
    amyrc12 Posts: 183 Member
    I tend to use the 'dip my fork' method. It's amazing how little it takes to taste good!
  • happy_vegan
    happy_vegan Posts: 200 Member
    I used to do that at college! We had one vegan dorm and they had the BEST salads in their dining hall. They had lids there available just for that purpose...it's so smart and you use SO much less! Great tip!

    vegan dorm WHAT??? where did you go to college!!? interesting!
  • superwmn
    superwmn Posts: 936
    I am also a fan of coating my salad with 2tbs of dressing by tossing it in a lidded container. It's amazing how far 2tbs goes when I do this.

    Charmagne
  • pressica
    pressica Posts: 361
    I am also a fan of coating my salad with 2tbs of dressing by tossing it in a lidded container. It's amazing how far 2tbs goes when I do this.

    Charmagne

    This is how I love it the most! It makes it so much easier and yummy too.
  • amelia_atlantic
    amelia_atlantic Posts: 926 Member
    That's one of my favorite parts of eating a salad at work!
  • shimacrema
    shimacrema Posts: 87
    great ideas. I always measure but now I will do the shaking to evenly distribute.
  • polar5554
    polar5554 Posts: 576 Member
    McDonalds had it right...Remember their Salad Shakers...What ever happened to those???
  • lodro
    lodro Posts: 982 Member
    I saw Rene Redzepi of the Danish Noma restaurant dress a salad: he brushes every individual leaf with some vinaigrette by means of a little brush. A bit labor intensive perhaps.
  • fitnesspirateninja
    fitnesspirateninja Posts: 667 Member
    I used to do that at college! We had one vegan dorm and they had the BEST salads in their dining hall. They had lids there available just for that purpose...it's so smart and you use SO much less! Great tip!

    vegan dorm WHAT??? where did you go to college!!? interesting!

    Was it UCSC?
  • UpToAnyCool
    UpToAnyCool Posts: 1,673
    I used to do that at college! We had one vegan dorm and they had the BEST salads in their dining hall. They had lids there available just for that purpose...it's so smart and you use SO much less! Great tip!

    vegan dorm WHAT??? where did you go to college!!? interesting!

    Was it UCSC?

    oh to be a banana slug! :laugh: (i was a boring bear - different UC campus!! )
  • USAFwifey12
    USAFwifey12 Posts: 373 Member
    They make containers for this purpose, they look like big cups with a lid. The lid has a place to store the dressing until you are ready to eat the salad so everything doesn't get all soggy if you're taking it to work to eat later. When you're ready for lunch you just push a button on the top of the lid and then shake away. It's my new best friend for lunches :happy:

    I can't remember where I got mine because its been over 5 yrs ago but I'm sure bed, bath and beyond or maybe pampered chef still carries somthing to that extent.
  • polar5554
    polar5554 Posts: 576 Member
    http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Fresh-210-FF-Shaker/dp/B000FNEVQG
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    I've been eating a lot of salads lately, and I have found an easy way to cut the amount of dressing that I use. I will prepare my salad in a container that has a lid, put about a tablespoon of dressing in there, place the lid and shake, shake, shake. It always evenly distributes the dressing so each piece of lettuce has some on it, which eliminates the need to pour a ton of dressing on the top. I would recommend that if you put cheese onto your salad to add that after you've shaken it up, because I've noticed that when I do put cheese and shake it, all the cheese will clump together. :)

    I do this as well. :smile:

    Also works when trying to use less pasta sauce!
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    I was on a salad for lunch everyday kick for a while and what I found was the best was to load the salad with veggies, hard boiled egg, and leave off the dressing entirely. I found them to be quite good as I could actually taste all the goodies i put on the salad.
  • bstamps12
    bstamps12 Posts: 1,184
    I buy the Wishbone Spritzers salad dressings. Each spray is only 1...yes ONE...calorie. I love the balsamic vinaigrette and I can cover a huge salad in 20 calories!
  • Olona
    Olona Posts: 70
    Thanks cause I'm pretty good about eating a salad but I always mess up with the dressing
  • joybell32
    joybell32 Posts: 252 Member
    I was on a salad for lunch everyday kick for a while and what I found was the best was to load the salad with veggies, hard boiled egg, and leave off the dressing entirely. I found them to be quite good as I could actually taste all the goodies i put on the salad.

    I agree. If i use my chopper to cut up my egg, it makes the salad wet enough that i usually dont need the dressing!
  • cohollywood
    cohollywood Posts: 90
    I do this too - I have one of the containers that are made to do it and I love it. Lately though, I've been using salsa as my salad dressing as it has more flavor for less calories. I can't stand most of the low cal salad dressings...except one brand - can't think of it off the top of my head but the ranch has NO calories and NO fat. I don't even know how that's possible, but I love it!
  • fitnesspirateninja
    fitnesspirateninja Posts: 667 Member
    I used to do that at college! We had one vegan dorm and they had the BEST salads in their dining hall. They had lids there available just for that purpose...it's so smart and you use SO much less! Great tip!

    vegan dorm WHAT??? where did you go to college!!? interesting!

    Was it UCSC?

    oh to be a banana slug! :laugh: (i was a boring bear - different UC campus!! )

    Must've been the Lair of the Golden Bear!
  • tmarie1213
    tmarie1213 Posts: 43 Member
    I always do this, so much easier to mix the dressing this way when in a container, than to try to mix it in with a fork. Your post reminded me that we have the makings for a salad in the fridge... guess what I'm having for lunch tomorrow?! Thanks for the reminder!
  • ashley0616
    ashley0616 Posts: 579 Member
    I used to do that at college! We had one vegan dorm and they had the BEST salads in their dining hall. They had lids there available just for that purpose...it's so smart and you use SO much less! Great tip!

    vegan dorm WHAT??? where did you go to college!!? interesting!

    I went to the University of Colorado in Boulder. It was the Cheyenne Arapaho dorm, we called it CheyHo. :smile: I had my first vegan grilled cheese there and vegan hot dog. They were really yummy!
  • ashley0616
    ashley0616 Posts: 579 Member
    I do this too - I have one of the containers that are made to do it and I love it. Lately though, I've been using salsa as my salad dressing as it has more flavor for less calories. I can't stand most of the low cal salad dressings...except one brand - can't think of it off the top of my head but the ranch has NO calories and NO fat. I don't even know how that's possible, but I love it!

    I often use peach salsa on my salads, with a little goat cheese. It's AMAZING.
  • Becky1971
    Becky1971 Posts: 979 Member
    I do this too, dipping it in the fork. Especially when I eat at salad bars and restaurants and am not able to measure, then I know I'm getting real close to the amount that I want.
  • sweetheart03622
    sweetheart03622 Posts: 928 Member
    I put things like onions, tomatoes, black beans, and corn on my salad and then toss them with a mixture of salsa and ranch... you can get a TON on there (for those of us that love creamy dressing-y goodness) for about 50-60 calories, if you use a light ranch. It's delicious too!
  • akmieciak
    akmieciak Posts: 6 Member
    McDonalds had it right...Remember their Salad Shakers...What ever happened to those???

    I loved those! I really wish they'd bring those back! Probably the only thing at Mickey D's that doesn't give me gut rot!:sick:
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