[Suzanne 3FC]

If a commercial salad dressing is all natural and not just a mass of chemical flavored glop, how many calories will you allow yourself per 2 tablespoon serving? 35? 60? 110? When do you decide it's too many? Naturally what all you put into a salad also affects the calories for the meal, but I'm just curious what other calorie counters consider a limit when you are buying and not making your own

[kelly315]

I try to get as low as possible, 20-30, unless its a special treat.

[JulieJ08]

I haven't found a store vinaigrette that I like flavor-wise, and that isn't freaky ingredient-wise. But I can make a homemade basic vinaigrette with 70 calories per 2T that I like, so I would shoot for something like that.

[JayEll]

I find that I don't need to skimp on how many calories in a salad dressing as long as I measure it carefully. That said, sometimes a "light" dressing is just as good as a full-fat dressing for half the calories. As an example, a 2TBSP serving of Newman's Balsamic Light is 45 cals, and the full-fat is 90 cals.

I sometimes use a full-fat dressing but half the amount--for example, a 110-calorie-per-serving olive oil and vinegar dressing, but I only use 1 TBSP. It sounds like nothing, but I've gotten used to lightly dressed salad (as compared to the days when I would just glug in on. )

If I really, really just can't afford that many fat calories, I'll use a salad spritzer instead.

Jay

[cfmama]

I aim for between 25-50 BECAUSE I only ever use 1 T

[LindseyLouWho]

I think currently in my fridge I have dressings that range from 30 cals for 2 TBSP to 110 cals for 2 TBSP. It just depends on whether I need the healthy fats from the canola/olive oil in the dressing that day or not.

[lorilove]

I try to stay under 50 - my current favorite is Bolthouse Farms Honey Mustard.