Thread: Low Carb/Low Cal Salad Dressing

I am looking for ways to cut a few calories while still keeping my carbs low and my fat a good level. LOL I don't want much!

I upped my carbs in the way of veggies, meaning a larger salad everyday, but that means more dressing, thus more calories. I've been doing regular ranch for a long time now, but I'm wondering if anyone has ideas for something with fewer calories.

Thanks in advance!

You can try a "trick" that they used to tell us at Weight Watchers.

Instead of putting the salad dressing on the salad, measure it out and put it in a small dish on the side. Then dip the tip of your fork tines in the dressing and then take a bite of salad. You will get a taste of salad dressing with each bite while using less dressing.

This is the second place today I've read that advice, so I'm going to take that as a sign and try it!! Thanks!

I've done that "dip the fork trick" and it works!

I also will toss my salad with the dressing, instead of pouring it on top. You get a lot more coverage out of a smaller amount of dressing that way!

Another good one is to mix your favorite low-carb salsa with a little sour cream or a little ranch dressing. Much lower calorie and very tasty too.

Char

Originally Posted by jooneezgrl

This is the second place today I've read that advice, so I'm going to take that as a sign and try it!! Thanks!

It will take a little while to get used to, but that is how I eat my salads now.

After so many years of counting calories, a salad with the salad dressing on it tastes nasty to me. I don't count calories anymore, but I still prefer the small taste of the little bit of salad dressing on the fork and the light clean taste of the vegetables themselves.

OK Betty and Char, I tired the "dip the fork" trick today, and sure enough, I used much less dressing. A couple of bites I forgot to dip the fork first (I have trouble getting used to new things ) But that was OK. I actually liked it better because i tasted the veggies instead of just the dressing. Imagine that!

D2LW: I checked out the website, and I'm not sure how they can be calorie free, but I think i'm going to check it out. How is the taste?

Thank you all so much!

My new favorite dressing is a very thick blue cheese dressing that has 1 carb per tablespoon. I dilute that one tablespoon with water or Hood milk to get enough to pour over the salad. But I like the fork/dip method. Must try that!

i'm really naughty when it comes to salad dressing hehe... but my favorite of all time is paul newman's low fat sesame ginger. it's only got 35 calories per serving, though the carb count is at 4 i think. but ohhhh it's so tasty!

I used the fork dip method for years and it works very well - gives the greens a good flavor for a fraction of the calories.

I read on another LC board about using a product called Ztrim to replace some of the fat in a recipe. It's mostly fiber, but it gives the mouth-feel of fat or oil. I just got my order a couple of days ago and have not tried any of the recipes yet. After I get a chance to make something, I'll let you know how it works.

Renee, just a "heads up."

The Walden's Farm dressings, IMHO, taste like bleep. So I don't care what the label says.

Of course, if you like them, it's another way to shave numbers.

I'm a "tosser." I decide how much dressing I can "afford" and then decide how much salad I want, then toss the one desired amount with the other. It always seems to taste wonderful to me. YMMV.

Thanks Maggie; those dressings sound interesing but I was wondering about the taste, so thank you for the honest feedback. And I was looking at the ingredients and wondering why on earth you would need to add titanium dioxide to a salad dressing....

Think I'll stick with my tried and true ranch and "dip the fork". I like the "tossing" idea too. I think being conscious of the amount is half the battle.

Thanks everyone!!