Salad Dressing
 

I have been using regular salad dressing on my salads. 2 tablespoons is more than plenty, but it is 100-130 a serving. Years ago I tried some fat free and light dressings and they tasted horrible and acidic. Are there any lower calorie, lower fat dressings out there I can try that don't taste awful?

I don't like any bottled dressings so I make my own. Here are my two favorite recipes -- maybe you'll like one. :)

Meg's Salad Dressing

Place all ingredients in a food processor:

1 cup low fat or nonfat mayonnaise (I use Hellman's reduced calorie mayo)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup Splenda
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 small onion, quartered

Process until smooth. Keep refrigerated.

Per tablespoon:

25 calories
2 grams fat
1 gram carbs
0 grams protein

Caesar Dressing

1 cup mayonaise, reduced fat mayo, or FF mayo (I use Hellmann's reduced fat)
2 T. olive oil
2 T. water
1/4 cup Eggbeaters
1.5 T. fresh lemon juice
1 T. anchovy paste (optional)
2 cloves garlic
Splenda or Equal to equal 2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

Place all ingredients in food processor bowl fitted with steel knife. Process for a minute or so, until all ingredients are blended and dressing is creamy. Store in refrigerator.

I like the Marie's made with yogurt. I have some ceasar/parm here right now, none of the chemically taste of most of the lowfat dressings and only 50 cals for 2 tablespoons.

I like Fat Free Italian dressing.

Kraft Light Ranch

Howdy,
I have been doing this and like it maybe you or someone else might as well. I like plain lemon juice on my salad.

I read about that tip when going out to eat, I have used it several times happily, and just did it this morning at our mother/son luncheon.

YMMV.

You can't beat Newmans Lighten Up Balsamic or the Seasme. They make some others too but I've never tried them. I think the balsamic is 45cals per 2Tbsp.

May favorite is also lemon juice (fresh), crushed garlic clove, and a small amount of olive oil.

I shall third the lemon juice! I love it on my salad, especially a chicken topped one.

Have you tried Wish Bone's Salad Spritzers? I don't really like vinegar based dressings, but I tried the Ranch and it wasn't too bad. It's like 15 calories for 10 sprays on one cup of salad. There are other flavors too if you want a variety that are 10 calories per serving.

I love the Newman's Own Lighten Up Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing. 2Tbsp=35 calories. Here's a link to check out some of their dressings. http://www.newmansown.com/product_li...ubcategoryid=2 I actually like most of his products.

I use nonfat greek yogurt with ranch seasoning packets for my ranch. To me it's better than the other "light" ranch dressings and the stats are amazing. You can use fat free sour creme too but the greek yogurt is thicker and has a bit more tang.

If you haven't tried light dressing for many years, you may want to try some again, I think they have improved a lot in taste over the years.

While I think some of the homemade ones can be great (and in all honesty, probably a better use of calories), for convenience, I rely on bottled dressing because I bring a big salad to work every day and keep a bottle in the fridge there.

This sounds good. Which ranch seasoning packet do you use? Hidden Valley?

I don't have any low fat recommendations, but there's also the trick of having your dressing on the side and dipping your fork into the dressing and then into the salad. You get a fair amount of flavor but it hardly uses any dressing. I do this at restaurants.