Salad dressing

KetoKris
KetoKris Posts: 78 Member
in Recipes
90% of my caloric intake consist of vegetables.......a.k.a. salad........topped with a protein. Usually chicken or turkey. Although I love vegetables, it's getting a bit boring. Any suggestions for a low-calorie dressing?
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Replies

  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Is there a medical reason for avoiding fats? I generally use regular or light dressing in moderate amounts.

    Newman's Light Sesame Ginger is 38 calories for 2 Tbls. Great on a salad with grilled chicken, almonds, mandarin oranges and snap peas.

    Greek yogurt & milk can be a great base for dry ranch dressing packets.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    bleu cheese is my favorite

    sometimes I just use sour cream instead of dressing

    not sure if either is low calorie, but more flavor means less dressing needed
  • KetoKris
    KetoKris Posts: 78 Member
    No medical reason. I'm just trying to lose weight so trying to keep my calories down. Those sound like good options I will definitely try.
  • ktra2014
    ktra2014 Posts: 21 Member
    Have you tried roasting your veggies? I recently discovered it and I'm loving it, it completely changes the taste and is not as boring as steamed. I don't usually have salad dressing but when I do I like balsamic or vinegar.
  • KetoKris
    KetoKris Posts: 78 Member
    tcunbeliever wrote: »
    bleu cheese is my favorite

    sometimes I just use sour cream instead of dressing

    not sure if either is low calorie, but more flavor means less dressing needed

    I use nonfat Greek yogurt on tacos instead of sour cream.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Salsa
  • Becca_250
    Becca_250 Posts: 188 Member
    Might sound daft but I was surprised how much salt and pepper makes a salad taste better! Also balsamic vinegar and maybe just mixing up some new toppings - a few almonds or some seeds or some chopped apple/strawberry
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    lemon juice. either mixed with olive oil salt and pepper or on its own.
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    There is a raspberry vinaigrette by Maple Grove Farms (sugar free) very low calorie (5 calories for 2TBS) that I like. My favorite is Wishbone fat free chunky blue cheese. It is only 30 calories for 2 TBS. I eat this all the time and have thinly sliced steak and Treasure Cave blue cheese crumbles on top of my greens. I have this almost every day.
  • 007Aggie
    007Aggie Posts: 110 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar with salt and pepper is my go-to.

    This. If you like goat cheese, add a little dollop to make it creamy. Mmm. Also good if you swap the vinegar for lemon. Particularly good on baby arugula.

  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,267 Member
    my father in law uses only vinegar on this salads... you can find some amazing infused vinegars all over the place. tastes great and has zero calorie (I think)...
  • 257_Lag
    257_Lag Posts: 1,249 Member
    Bolthouse Farms makes some pretty amazing dressing. In the cooler section near the vegetables usually.
  • pbandwine
    pbandwine Posts: 1,236 Member
    Having good fats with vegetables aid in vitamin absorption - just a little tidbit. That being said, I like hummus (you can thin it with a little water) and this:
    http://gimmedelicious.com/2015/09/27/creamy-avocado-cilantro-lime-dressing/
  • KetoKris
    KetoKris Posts: 78 Member
    Becca_250 wrote: »
    Might sound daft but I was surprised how much salt and pepper makes a salad taste better! Also balsamic vinegar and maybe just mixing up some new toppings - a few almonds or some seeds or some chopped apple/strawberry

    I totally agree with the nuts and seeds. I put pumpkin and sunflower seeds and Chia in every salad I eat!

  • KetoKris
    KetoKris Posts: 78 Member
    pbandwine wrote: »
    Having good fats with vegetables aid in vitamin absorption - just a little tidbit. That being said, I like hummus (you can thin it with a little water) and this:
    http://gimmedelicious.com/2015/09/27/creamy-avocado-cilantro-lime-dressing/

    That dressing sounds amazing!

  • DeviatedNorm
    DeviatedNorm Posts: 422 Member
    I buy super fancy vinegars and just use those. The Olive Mill Stores has a great selection. I especially like the white peach balsamic and the serrano chili honey balsamic vinegar. They're like 15-30 calories per serving.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I only use a variety of hot sauces. Rather save my calories for ice cream. And hot sauce rocks.
  • conquertheself
    conquertheself Posts: 91 Member
    Some awesome dressing and super natural healthy ones can be taking from raw vegan recipes. Here is a video of 5 different ones that can be tried out and they are pretty healthy!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_z9xhwjOOw
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Kris03451 wrote: »
    90% of my caloric intake consist of vegetables.......a.k.a. salad........topped with a protein. Usually chicken or turkey. Although I love vegetables, it's getting a bit boring. Any suggestions for a low-calorie dressing?

    I like my vegetables plain. Actually find it amazing how things have evolved from my grandparent's time with just vegetables (or greens as they called them), to today's fancy "salads" now with cheese, oil, bacon, egg, fruit, etc. mixed in, and added dressings or sauces on top.
  • C0ffeeBreak
    C0ffeeBreak Posts: 21 Member
    I've discovered Ken's steakhouse lite applecider vinagrette. It only has 80 calories for 2 Tblsp. I can't get enough of it.
  • kasaz
    kasaz Posts: 274 Member
    I have been making dressing with 1 T avocado oil and 1T fig balsamic reduction. It is enough for the 2 of us. I put it on baby spinach that has some strawberries and a few blue berries in it. On top just a couple chopped walnuts and a tiny bit of feta. Very delicious and nutritious!
  • AndOne8675
    AndOne8675 Posts: 151 Member
    I usually sprinkle seasoned rice vinegar on my salad. I'm lazy. Sometimes I will add a little greek yogurt or smashed avocado in with the vinegar and a little water with spices...when I feel fancy
  • BaristaX
    BaristaX Posts: 151 Member
    barberellass wrote: »
    I usually sprinkle seasoned rice vinegar on my salad. I'm lazy. Sometimes I will add a little greek yogurt or smashed avocado in with the vinegar and a little water with spices...when I feel fancy

    I was going to say the same thing, I usually take Greek yogurt and mix it with rice vinegar and a small amount of stevia, balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard, and it turns out tasting like a creamy Greek salad dressing
  • ladydy911
    ladydy911 Posts: 126 Member
    I know this will sound weird, but I use pickle juice when I know I am going to come close to my counts for the day. I usually just use a little of whatever salad dressing I want, but there are days I know I am going to have a high calorie dinner so I will lighten up the dressing at lunch. I have also use hummus.
  • Boyer6605
    Boyer6605 Posts: 49 Member
    I like to use salsa and the Olive Garden dressing is 80 calories for 2 tablespoons. I know they make a light as well but I haven't looked at the nutrition facts on that one yet.
  • awellen21
    awellen21 Posts: 3 Member
    A great and easy salad dressing I make is to take balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper and shake the crap out of it. Usually I don't even add olive oil and it still tastes great.
  • jenchamb1
    jenchamb1 Posts: 73 Member
    There's a good ranch recipe on pinterest that's only 3 ingredients: buttermilk, rf mayo and hidden valley dressing packet. Really low calorie and good.
    Also, Bolthouse is great. Honey mustard and creamy garlic are my favorites.
  • ramurray8
    ramurray8 Posts: 25 Member
    If your grocery store has Tessamae dressings, I'd suggest them. They are in the refrigerated section near the salad lettuce at my stores. They are "real" in the sense that it's ingredients that you would make salad dressing with - if you took the five minutes to do it yourself. I find that i just need a little.

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