Help! I love ranch dressing...

kaetmarie
kaetmarie Posts: 668 Member
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
So I'm new to this logging business and I am so discouraged that almost half of my total salad calories are from my dressing. I LOVE ranch, but was wondering if there were alternatives...I hate Low-Fat/Fat-Free ranch...already tried it. What dressings do you all like on your salads??
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Replies

  • ellyallen
    ellyallen Posts: 30
    I like the low fat Italian. Also, I like the ranch you make yourself in the package. You can add buttermilk and/or fat free yogurt and it will be lower in calories but still has a good flavor.
  • Mybabie
    Mybabie Posts: 239
    I love raspberry vinaigrette. :smile:
  • SusanneWhittington
    SusanneWhittington Posts: 339 Member
    the fat free from Lighthouse is really good. Otherwise Balsamic vinegar.
  • ChristineMarie89
    ChristineMarie89 Posts: 1,079 Member
    jeez girl i know what ya mean im addicted to ranch and fat free jus doesnt cut it ive recently purchased the spray ranch :P have yet to try it but its a whole lot less calories than jus ranch
  • holliemckeeth
    holliemckeeth Posts: 2
    I use cottage cheese and sprinkle it with ranch dressing powder mix.
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    fat free ranch is 30 calories.
    get it.!


    i have the same love for ranch :D !
  • loseatonlady
    loseatonlady Posts: 160
    That's a hard one to ween yourself off of. I like the Balsamic Vingrettes, and even just plain Apple Cider Ving & Oil mix! Have you tried having it on the side and dipping your fork into it before you take a bite? That's a WW trick - at least until you develop a taste for another. Unfortunately any creamy based dressing is not good. They do take up too many calories & the others take less - which is why people use them.
    Best wishes & if you need some encouragment - find me! Love sharing the journey!
    Janelle
  • impudentputz
    impudentputz Posts: 479 Member
    well usually i get a ceasar salad (*not as healthy as regular salads but whtever*) however i get the dressing on the side and basically just scoop a little bit per bit of salad and usually end up with half a packet of dressing left by the time the salad is gone, ive gotten more and more used to the taste of just the lettuce and veggies without dressing.
  • MisterDubs303
    MisterDubs303 Posts: 1,216 Member
    In a tiny little bowl, mix your ranch dressing with a tablespoon of milk. It thins it out, allowing the flavor to spread all over your salad, requiring you to use less (or just the actual 2 tbsp serving size). Works like a charm.
  • Dohrnl
    Dohrnl Posts: 43 Member
    I consider myself to love condiments. Salad dressing is HUGE for me. I found Bolthouse Farms Yogurt dressings were low-cal and satisfying! They have so many different kinds, and they are only about 35-50 calories per serving. They have a ranch one, but I am more of a honey mustard or chunky blue cheese girl. It took a bit to get use to the different taste, but now I can't go back!
  • keenslk
    keenslk Posts: 126
    balsamic vinaigrette is my fav it is tastey but low fat :)
  • calemanlds
    calemanlds Posts: 1
    Im very Big on getting accurate calorie content so I measure all the food I consume even if it is tablespoons! usually you will be surprised what a single serving mixed around in your salads would cover. dont over pour! you will ruin the salad. instead liven it up with flavorful things like tangerines, apples, avocados, berries but dont put nuts, they are usually high in calories and fat. Low fat/ or light italian its greattt!
  • szczepj
    szczepj Posts: 422
    Balsalmic Vinaigrette It's awesome, and has decent calories.
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    I don't mind the "low fat" versions of dressing, but if I use full-fat dressing I just measure it carefully and use about half what I normally would. Saves on calories but you can still get the taste that way :)
  • cwbzfan
    cwbzfan Posts: 14
    I get the dry ranch dressing mix and instead of mayo use plain yogurt. It isn't as thick but tastes very close to the same as ranch and is very low in calories.
  • DannyMussels
    DannyMussels Posts: 1,842 Member
    Google 'Walden Farms'


    They make calorie-free everything.

    Pretty much fake, and all water, chemically. But they taste nearly identical.

    You're welcome.
  • jamielise2
    jamielise2 Posts: 432 Member
    In a tiny little bowl, mix your ranch dressing with a tablespoon of milk. It thins it out, allowing the flavor to spread all over your salad, requiring you to use less (or just the actual 2 tbsp serving size). Works like a charm.

    I use the 2 tbsp serving and add 1 tbsp of water to thin it out so I get the flavor.
  • blondski
    blondski Posts: 36 Member
    Walden Farms have several......they are no fat, sugar, carbs. It is a thin dressing, but really good!
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    This is how iit survived till i learned to go without.

    Fat Free Ranches Dressing

    1 (24oz) container Fat Free Cottage Cheese 1/2-3/4 cup skim milk 1 TBS white vinegar 1 envelope Ranch Dressing Mix

    Blend in food processer or blender until smooth. 12 calories and zero fat per TBS!
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member
    You should do a search on this topic. I posted the recipe for homemade ranch yesterday. Someone had the EXACT same question.

    :flowerforyou:
  • DaniJeanine
    DaniJeanine Posts: 473 Member
    You can actually make your own using nonfat, plain greek yogurt, olive oil, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and any other spice you like! It's amazing and you control the amount of oil you add. Message me if you're interested in the exact recipe--I know it's around here somewhere!! :-)
  • corbansmom
    corbansmom Posts: 71
    I loved Hidden Valley Light Original, but this past bottle I bought didn't taste as good. Good luck in your search!
  • fudgebudget
    fudgebudget Posts: 198 Member
    Bolthouse Farms makes a really good ranch with yogurt (and sans HFCS) - it's 70 calories for 2 tablespoons, but it goes a long way. I have a habit of dipping baked sweet potato fries in it, which tastes AMAZING.
  • TS65
    TS65 Posts: 1,024 Member
    Try making homemade - then you can use fat free or lower fat ingredients (mayo & buttermilk) to lower the calories (without ruining the flavor)

    Here's one I googled:

    Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe

    Ingredients
    1 cup buttermilk
    1/2 cup mayonnaise
    1 teaspoon lemon juice
    1/8 teaspoon paprika
    1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/8 teaspoon black pepper
    1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
    1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
    1/4 teaspoon of dry dill (or a teaspoon chopped fresh)


    Method

    1 In a medium bowl, stir together the buttermilk and mayonnaise until fully mixed. Add in the other ingredients, adjusting for taste.

    Keeps for a week, covered in the fridge.

    Yield: Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
  • Jessicaruby
    Jessicaruby Posts: 881 Member
    i use salsa instead! it is super yummy! i used to love ranch and i put it on everything. i do not even crave it anymore. i add other things to my salad for protein and fiber and more flavor such as corn, black beans, or garbonzo beans!!! it is so good.
  • WifeNMama
    WifeNMama Posts: 2,876 Member
    A little goes a long way with dressing, provided you add it and then toss the salad like crazy. I hate Caesar salad simply because people put way too much dressing on. It's like soup in most restaurants.
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    Bolthouse Farms makes a really good ranch with yogurt (and sans HFCS) - it's 70 calories for 2 tablespoons, but it goes a long way. I have a habit of dipping baked sweet potato fries in it, which tastes AMAZING.

    Holy crap, this sounds good. Must get sweet potato fries at Trader Joe's this weekend.

    Anyway, I echo those recommending that you make your own. :) I do, and it's tasty enough that I only need one tablespoon for a huge salad.
  • Wynterbourne
    Wynterbourne Posts: 2,235 Member
    A couple of my favorites are Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger, Kraft Roasted Red Pepper Italian and Kraft Light Balsamic Vinaigrette. If you've ever had the salad at a Benihana restaurant the Newman's Own is quite similar.
  • harleygirlT
    harleygirlT Posts: 223 Member
    I love Fat Free Asian dressing. It's a little sweet and spicy. I also will mix just a little bit of ranch with it. It's just enough to give you the creamy flavor of ranch without all the calories.
  • apee24
    apee24 Posts: 46
    U know wuts really good? Make your own. Buy the packets and use low fat mayo and low fat buttermilk and it will be way less for you. Hidden Valley Ranch makes the best packet mix EVER!!! it's way better than the bottled stuff even as far as taste.
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