Salad can be a healthy option for a balanced diet, but the dressing you choose can load your salad with sugar and unhealthy ingredients. Making your own dressing is one way to ensure your salad stays delicious and nutritious.
Unfortunately, most store-bought dressings are brimming with added sugar, preservatives, and artificial flavorings that can diminish the potential health benefits of your salad.
Making your own salad dressing at home is an easy and cost-effective alternative to store-bought varieties.
A 2-tablespoon (30-ml) serving contains the following nutrients (1, 2, 3, 4, 5):
With just five basic ingredients, balsamic vinaigrette is one of the easiest homemade salad dressings to prepare in a pinch.
It has a sweet yet savory flavor that works well in just about any salad, making it one of the most versatile options available.
A 2-tablespoon (30-ml) serving contains the following nutrients (1, 6, 7, 8):
Creamy, cool, and refreshing, this avocado lime dressing works great on salads or served as a tasty dip for fresh veggies.
Avocado is a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and may help boost your HDL (good) cholesterol levels (9, 10).
A 2-tablespoon (30-ml) serving contains the following nutrients (1, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13):
This tart, tasty salad dressing is a great choice to help brighten up your favorite salads and vegetable dishes.
It works especially well for simple salads that need a bit of extra zing, thanks to its zesty citrus flavor.
A 2-tablespoon (30-ml) serving contains the following nutrients (1, 14, 15):
This creamy homemade dressing has a slightly sweet flavor that’s ideal for adding a bit of depth and rounding out your favorite savory salads.
It also works well as a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries, appetizers, and fresh veggies.
A 2-tablespoon (30-ml) serving contains the following nutrients (1, 7, 15, 16):
15 BEST Low Calorie Salad Dressing Options For Weight LossBolthouse Farms Cilantro Avocado Yogurt Dressing.Bolthouse Farms Honey BBQ Ranch.Newman’s Own Light Balsamic.365 Organic Light Ranch Dressing.Ken’s Steakhouse Lite Northern Italian Dressing.California Olive Ranch Vinaigrette.G. … Hidden Valley Light Ranch Dressing.
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Bolthouse Farms Cilantro Avocado Yogurt Dressing.
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Bolthouse Farms Honey BBQ Ranch.
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Newman’s Own Light Balsamic.
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365 Organic Light Ranch Dressing.
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Ken’s Steakhouse Lite Northern Italian Dressing.
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California Olive Ranch Vinaigrette.
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G. …
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Hidden Valley Light Ranch Dressing.
Greek yogurt ranch
Versatile, creamy, and delicious, ranch dressing is one of the most popular salad dressings available.
In this homemade alternative, Greek yogurt gives a healthy twist to this tasty condiment. This version works well as a dipping sauce or dressing.
- 1 cup (285 grams) plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.5 grams) garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.2 grams) onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 grams) dried dill
- dash of cayenne pepper
- dash of salt
- fresh chives, chopped (optional)
- Stir together the Greek yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried dill.
- Add a dash of cayenne pepper and salt.
- Garnish with fresh chives before serving (optional).
A 2-tablespoon (30-ml) serving contains the following nutrients (11, 17, 18, 19):
- Calories: 29
- Protein: 1 gram
- Carbs: 2 grams
- Fat: 2 grams
Tasty Salad Dressings that Supercharge Your Health – Dr. Berg
FAQ
What is being thinner and lighter than mayonnaise dressing?
What is the lowest calorie salad dressing?
1. Walden Farms Caesar Dressing Nutritional info for 2 tablespoon (30mL) of caesar dressing: Walden Farms’ salad dressings are the lowest calorie store-bought dressings you can get. All of their options have zero calories, and they’re also sugar free and carb free as well.
What is the healthiest dressing?
“In general, the healthiest choices are oil and vinegar or a light vinaigrette,” Dobbins says. Still, she cautions that it is important to watch your portions because this dressing has a relatively high sodium-per-serving level.
What is the easiest homemade salad dressing?
With just five basic ingredients, balsamic vinaigrette is one of the easiest homemade salad dressings to prepare in a pinch. It has a sweet yet savory flavor that works well in just about any salad, making it one of the most versatile options available. balsamic vinegar with the Dijon mustard and minced garlic.
Are store-bought salad dressings healthy?
Although it’s always the best option to whip up healthy salad dressings at home from vinegar, herbs, and a healthy oil, it is also easy enough to find a healthy, tasty store-bought kind — if you read the nutritional facts label carefully. First off, let’s talk fat. It’s not the enemy!