Apr
If you’ve been dieting or reading up on dieting for long you’ve probably heard all the talk about how “evil” salad dressing is.
Some people recommend getting dressing on the side and dipping your fork in it.
Others recommend skipping dressing all together.
Still others will tell you to opt for fat free dressing or another low-cal option.
I’m going to go against the popular vote here and say that if you want salad dressing on your salad, then by golly, have salad dressing.
Now admittedly, salad dressing can add a lot of calories to your meal, and a lot of times most of those calories come from fat. However, I’m going to venture a guess that it’s probably not the worst thing that most of us eat each day.
And let’s face it - a plain old salad with no dressing isn’t really going to win any flavor or taste contests anytime soon, is it?
Here’s my take on it. As long as you are using salad dressing in moderation and not dumping a whole bottle on your salad, it’s not the end of the world.
First, if you are eating salad you are doing a good thing by giving your body nutrients that it needs from the vegetables in the salad.
Second, even if you are adding calories to the salad by using dressing, there are a ton of other ways to cut calories throughout the day that are a lot less noticeable (in my mind) to do. Check out 10 Easy Way to Cut 100 Calories for some ideas.
Third, you can always add a little more exercise to burn off the calories from the dressing if you are worried about it…and you don’t even have to increase the length of your workout.
Instead, just move more throughout the day. Do leg lifts while you are making dinner. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park further away from the store and walk in. Dance around your living room for a few minutes. Do walking lunges across your house on your way to the bathroom.
There are a million different ways you can burn extra calories each day without spending extra time on your workouts.
Still Feel Guilty About Salad Dressing?
If you’re still feeling guilty about salad dressing it’s OK. It’s one of those diet tips that has been drilled into our heads for years so it’s understandable if you don’t want to take the plunge and pour on the dressing.
You can still add flavor to your salad without packing on a ton of fat and calories. Try one of these options instead:
Salsa
Pour some salsa over your salad for instant flavor with practically no calories and zero fat. As an added bonus you get a splash of color which can make a salad more fun to look at. (Can a salad really be “fun” to look at? Hmmm…)
Soy Sauce
Try using low sodium soy sauce as a salad dressing instead. It has tons of flavor but hardly any calories. Just be sure to opt for low sodium to keep your salt intake down.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice gives salad a fresh flavor and can be a fun alternative to heavier dressings - especially on a hot summer day.
Apple Cider Vinegar or Red Wine Vinegar
Play around with different vinegars to see which one you like best. Personally I’m a big fan of apple cider vinegar because it does a lot of good things for your body and it tastes great.
Cottage Cheese
Admittedly, cottage cheese will add calories to your salad. However, it’s also packed with protein and can help you stay feeling full longer.
Fat Free Yogurt
Flavor up some fat free yogurt with your favorite spices and put a dollop on your salad. Try mixing in some lemon juice and spicy mustard - it’s delicious.
Fruit
Fruit can jazz up salad and make it more flavorful. Try mandarin oranges on a spinach salad. Or cut up a pear and toss the pieces in with your greens. Play around and see what tastes best to you.
Anyone else have ideas for salad dressing alternatives? If so feel free to leave them in the comments section.
All in all, if you want to have dressing on your salad I say you should go for it. Just use your head, keep it in moderation, find other ways to cut calories or add some exercise. Any other opinions?
