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    Let's talk salads!

    Posts: 9 Member
    edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
    I love eating salad but since I've started counting calories I've noticed my favorite vinaigrette isn't the best choice. I'd much rather have and apple and a banana instead of 2tbsp of dressing at 160 calories. But I also hate eating plain lettuce, It makes me feel like a dinosaur.

    How do ya'll dress up your salad? I really hate fruit or sweet dressing in my salads. More of a veggie/protein kinda gal. Gimme ideas please :)

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    Replies

    • Posts: 3,077 Member
      I use olive oil. It's too plain for some people, but it gives me just enough.
    • Posts: 1,858 Member
      edited July 2015
      bolthouse dressings! 30-45 calories 2 tbls and really really good. refrigerator section. i will also dress with grapefruit or other fruits.

      eta oops didn't read whole post so missed the "you dont like fruit" sorry
    • Posts: 24 Member
      Today I tried some Walden Farm's Thousand Island since it has the best star rating. It tasted decent on a spinach salad. It has no calories. I figured it was worth a try. I'd order it again.
    • Posts: 11 Member
      whalden farms has a few no calorie dressings, try those
    • Posts: 1,428 Member
      i dnt use dressing. Just have a *kitten* load of veges...beetroot and feta is usually enough of a flavor add
    • Posts: 776 Member
      Walden Farms all the way, they have quite a few flavors and zero calorie.
    • Posts: 9 Member
      I will check the no calorie dressings! I just always assumed it they would taste like socks. Worth a try though. Thanks!

      How did I not think to put feta in my salad?
    • Posts: 9 Member
      Will also try just olive oil!
    • Posts: 11 Member
      Mrj183 wrote: »
      i dnt use dressing. Just have a *kitten* load of veges...beetroot and feta is usually enough of a flavor add
      That +/- lemon juice and herbs
    • Posts: 2,817 Member
      I make all kind of oil or vinegar's dressings myself ( like balsamic) + spices and herbs
      Indeed Bolthouse farm dressings
      Just some mustard with water (or oil/vinegar) and spices and herbs can make some very nice dressing too
      And lemon juice also.

      Just use your imagination :)

      Even a bit of water with all kind of spices and herbs can be nice.
      And i sometimes make a kinda avocado mousse with spices. i thin it with water or lemon juice and poor it over my salad.
    • Posts: 15 Member
      Braggs liquid aminos add good flavor and lemon juice and salt
    • Posts: 276 Member
      I love a salad with chicken breast and crumbled feta. I'm normally a ranch kind of girl but it just isn't worth the calories so I tried wishbone zesty Italian dressing, 80 cals for 2 tablespoons and it tastes incredible!
    • Posts: 2,607 Member
      Salad with meat, it can tuna, grilled chicken, grilled talapia, steak. I also put siracha hot sauce instead of salad dressing. My salad is a kitchen sink style of salad which is every vegetable I can find.
    • Posts: 34 Member
      TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »
      I make all kind of oil or vinegar's dressings myself ( like balsamic) + spices and herbs
      Indeed Bolthouse farm dressings
      Just some mustard with water (or oil/vinegar) and spices and herbs can make some very nice dressing too
      And lemon juice also.

      Just use your imagination :)

      Even a bit of water with all kind of spices and herbs can be nice.
      And i sometimes make a kinda avocado mousse with spices. i thin it with water or lemon juice and poor it over my salad.

      Yum, I love the idea of an avocado dressing!

      I usually make vinaigrettes at home too. Vinegar (rice & balsamic are my favorite), olive oil, mustard, some sweet component (honey, jam/preserves), and s&p. I've also been meaning to try adding minced shallots for a more savory dressing.
    • Posts: 688 Member
      balsamic vingear
    • Posts: 18,781 Member
      I like different vinegars, balsamic, red wine, white wine etc. A little olive oil also goes a long way and some of the infused ones are amazing. I sometimes make dressings with a mix of oil, vinegar, mustard and lemon juice - deliciously zesty. None of these things tend to come in over 50 cals a serve.
    • Posts: 242 Member
      Kens Light Northern Italian has 45 cals for 2 Tbsp. I've actually gotten to where 1 Tbsp is enough for me, especially with the thinner dressings and using strong flavors in the salad itself (well seasoned meat, onion, fresh herbs, a good feta).
    • Posts: 355 Member
      Add flavorsome ingredients like feta or goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, olives, beetroot, artichoke hearts, meat/poultry/fish/egg etc. Then spice it up with fresh herbs. If you find your salad too dry: add 2tbsp of cottage cheese. Want a dressing? Try harrisa+OJ, lemon juice+mustard, buttermilk+fresh herbs, buttermilk+horseradish, balsamic vinegar (no oil).
    • Posts: 1,267 Member
      make your own dressing: olive oil, salt, mint and lemon juice YUMMY!! Also, check newman's own balsamic. i think it has 90 cal per 2tbsp
      I'm currently obsessed with "mexican" salad; mixed greens, black beans, corn, tomatoes, black olives and salsa-- no dressing needed on this one
    • Posts: 366 Member
      I agree with the flavorful ingredients. And avocado will give you a creamy texture. I like to use pico de gallo with either extra lime juice or balsamic vinegar. In a pinch I use my favorite salsa.
    • Posts: 286 Member
      I use balsamic vinegar with a touch of maple syrup. Low calories and healthy.
    • Posts: 1,137 Member
      My standard dressing is a tiny amount of lemon infused olive oil and then balsamic vinegar. My usual lunch salad is tuna, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mixed lettuce and about 50g of quinoa. Gets the job done, tasty and filling.
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    • Posts: 27,732 Member
      I like vinegar dressings, a little oil with lemon juice, or some of the lower calorie dressings you can get at the supermarket. I have one that's Zesty Italian or something like that and it's 35 calories per serving.

      Word of caution about Walden Farms. They don't have zero calories period. They have less than 5 calories per serving, which allows the manufacturer to put 0 calories on the label. But there are calories in the dressing if you eat the entire bottle. Same for anything else with "0 calories" except water. Awhile back there was a thread where someone was extremely upset that they had been using one of those spray butter containers every 2 or 3 days and just dumping it on stuff, because they didn't realize that it's not really zero calories. Also I personally find Walden Farms vile, so you might want to try just one flavor and see how you like it before you purchase a bunch.
    • Posts: 16 Member
      I also skip dressing but pair my baby greens with some flavorful additions - tomato, red bell peppers, avocado, carrots, and for protein and flavor I add a piece of miso-marinated salmon. nom nom :)
    • Posts: 574 Member
      I like to mush up an avocado with some sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), vinegar (red wine is good to me, lemon juice is also nice), garlic salt, and pepper. It makes a REALLY tasty dressing. However, the calories are higher because of the avocado, though they are VERY healthy calories and full of fiber, which most dressings don't have at all.
    • Posts: 476 Member
      Add other veggies and some very spicy salsa!! YUM!
    • Posts: 296 Member
      Vinegar based dressings are good. Or just use your favorite in moderation, don't drown your salad in dressing. Add flavor with other veggies or high-protein toppings like egg whites or grilled chicken.
    • Posts: 752 Member
      Bolthouse is my go-to dressing. (They are in the cold area of my grocery produce section.) I believe they are all yogurt based, too. Yummy! :)
    • Posts: 15,357 Member
      edited July 2015
      I use balsamic vinegar, horseradish mustard, and olive oil mixed. If I use avocado or guac on the salad, I can skip the oil if I need to save calories. Also, juicy mixins help (tomatoes with the seeds, banana peppers if you include the juice, olive, etc.)
    This discussion has been closed.

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