Salad Dressing: Fat, No or Low??

O

olexa17

Cathlete
:)
Hey Y'all,

I am really trying to clean up my diet as I feel that it is the barrier to me losing the last 10 lbs!! Ugh. So as I want to focus on eating more salads; I am curious. Do you all go the no-fat dressing route, the full fat dressing or "low-fat" dressing?

I have never been good making an oil/vinegar type dressing at home; it makes me NOT want to eat salads. I tend to like French, and usually do it on the side and dip my fork in. But I use full fat...regular dressing. I'll put 2TBS in a ramekin and usually don't use the whole amount.

Is this bad?? Would you consider this to be a barrier?? Is there something else you guys add to your salads that can taste good and replace dressing??

Help! all hints welcome!!
thanks
Kelly
 
Kelly-
I've been using just balsamic vinegar on my salads in my similar quest of dropping those last 10-15 pounds. I was lucky to find Paul Newman's balsamic- a little pricey, but it has a shaker top and it's really quite good!
 
As far as dressings go, I opt for low- or full-fat vinagrette type dressings that use healthy oils, like olive oil. I find that a little bit goes a long way. I can't stomach no-fat salad dressing...something about them tastes unnatural to me.

For healthy add-ins, I usually add some walnuts or almonds, sometimes granola or dried fruit for a little sweetness.
 
A lot fo the times no-fat dressings will have a lot of sugar in them to make up for the fat. So, I'd stay away from non-fat dressings. Be sure to look at the label, and maybe go for a low fat french style if that is what you like. Just try to avoid a lot of sugar.

Kathy
 
I usually make my own with dijon mustard, vinegar, and olive oil... and I really up the mustard to make it very creamy and low fat. Another thing I like to do is make a "taco" salad... without the taco part, using seasoned soy, black beans, over shredded lettuce with salsa on top. The salsa has no fat and is very low in calories. It's very nutritious... and low calorie... plus it fills you up. Now I need to get back to that Dunkin' Donuts thread... (just kidding).:)
 
I go for the lowfat dressing. Like one poster said the no fat has a lot of sugar. My favorite is the Paul Newmam Balsamic lowfat dressing and the Raspberry & Walnut Dressing lowfat.
 
Hi Kelly,
I feel like a broken record, because I keep singing the praises of Newman's Lite Balsamic Vinegrette dressing. But it's still true: I LOVE IT!! I have also said many times that Newman's is the only bottled dressing that my nutritionist considers to be "clean". Two tablespoons have 45 calories, which IMHO is awesome for something that tastes so darn good.

I once got the regular Newman's balsamic vinegrette by mistake and didn't like the taste as much as the Lite. I think the Lite has more balsamic vinegar.

But if you REALLY prefer the creamy stuff, what you're doing doesn't sound so bad to me. My DH only eats French, but he pours half a bottle on, which tends to defeat the whole purpose of eating a salad for dinner. Your 2 tablespoon method sounds okay to me.

-Nancy
 
When I use a topping, I always use just Balsamic Vinegar. But a lot of times I don't top it with any kind of dressing at all.

Sometimes, when I'm grilling meat outside, I'll top the salad with that and the juices make for a great dressing. Last night, I made 'sloppy joes' with 95% lean ground beef and topped my salad with that. It was DELISH and tasted like a taco salad.

Gayle
 
Avoid no-fat dressings, unless there is another source of fat in the salad, like avocado or nuts, because the fat helps your body absorb some nutrients.

I usually eat my salads naked (no dressing) but include a fat source in them, like avocados, sunflower seeds, etc. When I do use a dressing, I like Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette or some type of Italian with lots of spices in.

I don't make my own dressings, but I have used just olive oil and vinegar (some very tasty vinegar type) sprinkled on my salad in a restaurant. The oil and vinegar came in separate glass bottles and you just put on as much as you want.

I just saw a commercial for some new dressings that come in a spray container. Seems like a good way to get a taste of dressing without too much.
 
I like balsamic vinegar, olive oil and dijon mustard too. But if you really want a fat free dressing try this: 2 Tablespoons of fat free yogurt, 1 packet splenda and dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar to taste. It's creamy and pretty tasty. My DH likes it and he won't eat anything remotely "diety".
 
I guess I am one of the first people to get the new salad spritzers- Its from Wishbone, I got the Red Wine mist, there was also an italian flavor, and vinegar, i believe- you spray it over the salad, its very light but has a very good flavor. I even used it on my tilapia filet that I baked last night and was very good! Its a 7 oz bottle, says it dresses more salads than a 16 oz bottle of dressing- don't know yet! Has 1 calorie per spritz, for 10 spritzes there is 1 gram of fat, 1g carb, and 1g sugar, and 95 mg of sodium. Hope this helps you out!
 
Paul Newman's is awesome and lower on the sodium which is always a plus. I'll take the sugar and the fat over the damn sodium any day.
 
I take usually between full-o-fat and low-fat. I don't use much dressing - a little goes a long way.

I like the Paul Newman dressings and LOVE:

Annie's dressings - Goddess & Shitake Mushroom are my faves. These are pricey but oh my they are good. I try to make them last and last.
 
These are all fabulous ideas! I went out and bought all three of Paul Newman's light dressings; they look yummy. And even with the lower fat/lower calorie dressings I still don't like to drench my salad..now with homemade blue cheese dressing that's another story. I could drown in the stuff!!;)
 
I use lite dressing I had to give up the fat free because the taste made me really sad :). My favorites are


Ken's Steakhouse Lite Olive Oil Vinegarette (just so good)
Maple Valley Farms Fat Free Balmasic Vinegarette (taste of this one did not make me sad)

KIM
 
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