low fat salad dressing...help!

GAJulie
GAJulie Posts: 8 Member
in Food and Nutrition
My favorite salad dressing is Maries Blue cheese. I have started the 17 day diet and eating more salads and have tried several different dressings, low fat ranch, no fat/sugar raspberry viniagrette, basalmic viniagrette....just can't stomach them, and have started eating my salads without dressing at all. Is there any low fat dressings that aren't tart, or aren't sickeningly sweet, that could be comparable to my beloved maries? ;)
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Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    The 17 day diet is about low carb, not low fat. Personally I need some fat when I'm eating a salad whether it's from oil, cheese, aioli, etc. A little fat helps with the absorption of some vitamins as well. imo
  • Bmontgomery613
    Bmontgomery613 Posts: 200 Member
    Bolthouse farms makes some delicious low-fat dressings that are made from yogurt. I absolutely love their ranch dressing. :)
  • SouthernArt77
    SouthernArt77 Posts: 223 Member
    If you like ranch, make your own. Use Hidden Valley Ranch mix, 2% milk, and reduced-fat mayo, and you'll have a low-fat ranch dressing without that wang that bottled "light" dressings have. Two tablespoons is only 48 calories if made with Hellman's reduced-fat mayo.

    Bottled light dressings I like are Newman's Own light balsamic vinaigrette and Newman's Own light sesame ginger.
  • dward2011
    dward2011 Posts: 416 Member
    I really like the low fat or fat free dressings from Kraft. I have about 7 different varieties in my fridge. :happy:
  • jcb1958
    jcb1958 Posts: 24 Member
    If you like Mexican food, try Marzetti's fat free Southwestern dip. It is in the fresh veggie department - creamy, a big spicy. I've also found using bottled Thai Peanut Sauce to be great on salads. It has a spicy, smoky taste that really jazzes up food.
    Jacquie
  • SirZee
    SirZee Posts: 381
    Check my diary for yesterday, that dressing makes the salad taste awesome, costs 30 cal.
  • ready2tryagain42
    ready2tryagain42 Posts: 202
    I make my own salad dressing with a little olive oil, lemon/lime juice and salt and pepper. I love it!
  • temp666777
    temp666777 Posts: 169
    I've lost something like 80 pounds in less than a year, and I eat a HUGE amount of fat.

    You've touched on the greatest controversy of the day .. the whole "low carbohydrate" aspect of dietary science.

    I encourage you to read "Why we get Fat" by Gary Taubes and "Life without bread" by Dr. Lutz.

    You may find that it is a mirage trying to eat low fat.

    A fascinating "soundbite" -- your HEART, for goodness sake, runs ONLY on fat, nothing else.

    1) Protein -- makes your body build n repair

    2) Fat -- what your body runs on. Like oil and petrol for a car. the primary, central, ingredient of health

    3) Carbohydrates -- incredibly bad for you. Your pancreas/insulin system exists to "reject" any small amount of carbohydrates you may "accidentally" eat. In modern times, we eat huge amounts of carbohydrates. This is the simple reason everyone is fat and sick.

    As I say, i personally went from Alfred Hitchcock to Kate Moss, eating a mammoth amount of fat every day.

    A typical "sauce" for me is like a pound of butter, melted on top of everything :) I eat three times a day the heaviest sauces, bechamel, hollaindaise, bearnaise, etc etc. And the fat fell off my body.

    it's something to consider - read the books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • bethanylaugh
    bethanylaugh Posts: 237
    skinnytaste has the BEST blue cheese dressing I've ever had... living in buffalo we use blue cheese and frank's on just about everything and this recipe has been amazing!!
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/04/low-fat-creamy-blue-cheese-dressing.html
  • cheryl010812
    cheryl010812 Posts: 19
    bump
  • k2charmed4u
    k2charmed4u Posts: 282
    How about Greek Olive Oil mixed with freshly chopped Garlic, basil, mint, Lemon Juice, Lemon Zest and Oregano. It's a lovely zesty yet earthy taste all at the same time and tastes delicious on seafood and chicken salads.

    Also if you add some white wine vineagar to the above ingredients marinade some chicken in it over night and cook it it makes a tasty stirfry. :happy:
  • meg7399
    meg7399 Posts: 672 Member
    I am unsure of the dressing you love and how others compare. I love Wishbone Light Ranch...the thing to remember though is too look for low fat and not fat free. Fat Free usually has MUCH more sugar added. Also, I use A LOT of full fat dressings. I just stick to the actual 2 tablespoon serving size. Dressings become dangerous when people just pour it on everything and pay no attention to portions and serving size
  • bethanylaugh
    bethanylaugh Posts: 237
    ps... i'm a former marie's fan. i don't know if i like the skinnytaste one better, but i haven't missed maries since i started eating it! i make mine with red wine vinegar and the stella reduced fat blue cheese crumbles and it removes another 10 calories per serving. :-)
  • AmyLRed
    AmyLRed Posts: 856 Member
    try salsa, guacamole, or greek yogurt as a salad dressing. They are yummy!!!
  • jaxbeck
    jaxbeck Posts: 537 Member
    My favorite salad dressing is Maries Blue cheese. I have started the 17 day diet and eating more salads and have tried several different dressings, low fat ranch, no fat/sugar raspberry viniagrette, basalmic viniagrette....just can't stomach them, and have started eating my salads without dressing at all. Is there any low fat dressings that aren't tart, or aren't sickeningly sweet, that could be comparable to my beloved maries? ;)

    I am in love with the Maries greek Vinaigrette! Prolly doesn't help you lol it's 12 grams of fat per serving :bigsmile:
  • beanerific518
    beanerific518 Posts: 152
    I love love love Fat Louie Oil Company Cinnamon Pear balsamic vinegar. My go-to salad at home consists of field greens, spinach, brocoli slaw, feta or goat cheese, dried fruit such as cranberries or apricots, chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans, balsamic vinegar and just a tiny bit of ranch (like less than a teaspoon).
  • jaxbeck
    jaxbeck Posts: 537 Member
    Fat Free usually has MUCH more sugar added. Also, I use A LOT of full fat dressings. I just stick to the actual 2 tablespoon serving size. Dressings become dangerous when people just pour it on everything and pay no attention to portions and serving size

    This! You will never see a fat free or low fat dressing on my salads. The sugar is much worse for you than the fat IMO
  • brismom070897
    brismom070897 Posts: 178 Member
    bump
  • GAJulie
    GAJulie Posts: 8 Member
    The 17 day diet is about low carb, not low fat. Personally I need some fat when I'm eating a salad whether it's from oil, cheese, aioli, etc. A little fat helps with the absorption of some vitamins as well. imo

    Yes, it's low processed carbs but under condiments it says to use low fat salad dressing.
  • LemonsAndCoffee
    LemonsAndCoffee Posts: 313 Member
    If you like salsa you can put that on salads to give it a little "oomph." Sometimes I take plain greek yogurt and mix it with Hidden Valley dry ranch packets to make my own ranch. I found a tomato with vidalia onion dressing by a company called Braswell's (it comes in a reusable carafe) that has good stats and I love it. HTH!
  • AMS430
    AMS430 Posts: 4
    Make your own blue cheese. take 1/4 c. reduced fat blue cheese crumbles(80 calories) and 1/4 c. fat free mayo. (40 calories) Mix together, I like to add fresh cracked pepper to the dressing:smile: . If you let it sit over night or a couple of days the flavors will blend and be more flavorful. two tablespoons of this dressing is only 30 calories.
  • kavanagh1961
    kavanagh1961 Posts: 1
    I make my own with 3/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and I like it better than anything else I've tried so I stick with it anymore and it doesn't need refrigerated so i keep it in my desk draw at work. Just shake it up and use-simplicity-I love it.
  • jamiesoto86
    jamiesoto86 Posts: 1
    I don't normally like salad dressing, but I was getting bored with salad all the time so I had to find something to make it more interesting! If you like spicy stuff, pour some Franks Buffalo Sauce on it! Gives a fun kick and practically no calories!
  • gehlerc
    gehlerc Posts: 651 Member
    If you have a Trader Joe's near you, check out their refrigerated salad dressings. I really, REALLY like several of them:

    Low fat Parmesan Ranch
    Cranberry Walnut Gorgonzola,
    Champagne Pear Vinaigrette
    Hummus (salad dressing) <--my new favorite!

    I've also started putting my salad (2 cups greens + other veggies) in a much larger bowl, pouring a measured 2 tablespoons of dressing on it, and tossing it. It really makes the smaller amount of dressing go much further.
  • mujerebelde
    mujerebelde Posts: 7
    Do not diet! the idea is to make gradual lifestyle changes so that they become part of who you are, not something that you are 'forcing' yourself to do for 17 days.

    PS. Lots of brands make yogurt dressings which are lower in fat than cream. With that said though, watch out for sugar and salt more than fat. You can try making your own dressing with avocado, which will be nice and creamy and without the bad fat from dairy.
  • LindaCWy
    LindaCWy Posts: 463 Member
    Use oil and vinegar as your dressing and eat real blue cheese in your salad. I did the 17 day diet too, that **** worked, but I wanted to throw salad out the window by the end of it, then I learned to add add add. Taco salad became my favorite, with browned ground lean grain fed turkey, salsa, plain greek yogurt, avocado, shredded cheddar, tomatoes and onions... Oh god I'm hungry now

    Basically I threw all the things I was "allowed" to eat into my salads
  • Daisy374
    Daisy374 Posts: 539 Member
    skinnytaste has the BEST blue cheese dressing I've ever had... living in buffalo we use blue cheese and frank's on just about everything and this recipe has been amazing!!
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/04/low-fat-creamy-blue-cheese-dressing.html

    ^^ This! I usually make my own salad dressing because I can tweak them and make them low sodium. And everything I have tried from Skinnytaste I have loved! I also made a creamy avacado dressing from this site that was yummy too!
  • Bree1294
    Bree1294 Posts: 32 Member
    try salsa, guacamole, or greek yogurt as a salad dressing. They are yummy!!!

    This is what I say as well! I use salsa on my salads - best thing in the world..... :)
  • mandemonious
    mandemonious Posts: 217 Member
    Bolthouse farms makes some delicious low-fat dressings that are made from yogurt. I absolutely love their ranch dressing. :)

    I second this motion. Delicious with some nice protein to boot!
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    make your own with some dill, lemon, and greek yogurt or ranch seasoning mixed in greek yogurt. You get the creaminess and some added protein.

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