Salad Dressings...

Does anybody eat regular dressing (a moderate amount) on their salads? I've tried the low fat dressings and I just can't stand them. I'm a Wishbone Italian girl and haven't found anything remotely as good as that. If I'm still within my calories, does it matter?

I was eating Kraft Zesty Italian....huge fan and recently found that Wishbone has a light done right Italian that is just as good.  I mostly eat the light dressings but I am always in search of a good calorie/sodium mix.

Sometimes it's easier to stick with the regular stuff and control portion if you can't get past the taste of the lights.  I had to drastically cut down the amount of dressing I was using to bring my calories down.  I normally drowned my salad....you want salad with that dressing???  Yep, that's me.  Anyway, I found that if you mix the dressing into the salad thoroughly (think the McShaker salad at McD's) you don't need as much dressing.  I put a lid on the bowl I'm using and shake away. 

If you are able to stay in your calories then I wouldn't worry too much about it.  Your calorie limit will get lower as you succeed/lose so trying out lower cal alternatives is probably a good idea anyway. 

I really love Newman's Own Light Red Wine Vinegar & Olive Oil...it's only 75 cal per 2 tbs serving and has a great kick.  I also like the regular Newman's Own Olive Oil & Vinegar, although it has twice the cals.

As long as you?re counting the calories it?s fine. I personally just find it hard to waste soooo many calories on full fat dressing. Have you tried ?light? to cut a few calories? When I can?t stomach the ?fat free? version of something, I try light and then eventually it?s easier to move to ?fat free? or not?either way the magic is in the counting. 

And of course you wanta try and keep you?re other foods healthy, 150 calories of chocolate cake not the same as 150 calories of fruit.  You gotta think nutrition as well, it makes you feel loads better.

Oh, and I?m not saying you can?t have chocolate cake BTW (for anyone reading this), lol?if you do just practice portion control and stay away from trigger foods, stuff you just can?t put down or kicks off your craving-cycle....had to be said! Everything in moderation, life changes I can actually live with?that?s my goal!

One of my fav dressings is Wishbone  light Asian with Sesame& Ginger Vinaigrette

i'm really picky with salad dressings too... these are my favorites right now-

ken's lite italian w/basil and romano cheese

newman's own lighten up honey mustard

wishbone just 2 good blue cheese

I like ranch with red wine vinegar. I use light ranch at home, but if I go out to eat, I'll eat the reg. ranch too - End up using half the amount of ranch and I think it tastes better.  

why not making a dressing for yourself...they are easy made, and much lower in cals and sodium and most times sugar

 i love this one

yogurt (i use a light version) its the basic of the dressing so take as much as you like

and than a little bit of citron, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic, herbs (they debend on the salad i use)....if i like it a bit spicier i add chili...

or the most basic one

2/4 oil, 1/4 water, 1/4 vinegar..just a little bit of sugar and pepper

Thanks everyone for the replies...

The Wishbone has 90 cals (but 8g fat) for 2 tbsp and I usually don't need even that much (Although I used to DROWN my poor salad when I was a kid, can't handle that much tartness now days)... Load that puppy up with some tomatoes and a few croutons and I'm good to go. 

I do think I will explore other dressing options as my paycheck allows because I  know eventually I won't be able to eat as many calories as I am now.  So, I appreciate all your suggestions!

Keep on keepin' on, ladies! 

I'm a ceasar salad fan so I've been keeping it to 2 Tbsp but I add a lot of squeezed lemon and fresh garlic so it goes furthur.  I can't stand fat free dressings, but the "Light done right" ones aren't bad.  ALso Neuman's has a low fat sesame ginger which tastes GREAT and also makes a good marinade. 

       &nb sp;               &nb sp;    NEVER give up!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I am at home we usually eat our salads without dressing. We have done this for a long time because my husband doesn't like that kind of stuff. When I am out someplace I have them put it on the side and just dip a little on my lettuce. That way I can have what ever I want. I find a little dressing can go a long way

Unlike yourself, I am a big fan of the calorie-wise dressings. I use this trick even when eating calorie-wise dressings, because I find it to be very helpful in keeping the calorie count down. I didn't have time to read through the other replies, so i dont know if somebody has alreayd suggested this, but this is a trick that i love. When eating a salad, but the salad dressing on the side of your plate, rather than pouring it onto your salad. When you want dresssing on your salad, simple dip your fork into the dressing, so you get SOME dressing on the fork. Then just use the fork (the same one you just put the dressing on) like you normally would to eat salad, and TADAA. not only does this decrease trhe amount of calories you are consumming, it also makes it easier to avoid getting that piece of lettuce or two that ahve huge clumps of ressing on them.

goodluck!:)

Calories are calories.  As long as you are within your caloric limits it's fine, but have you tried Wishbone's Salad Spritzers?  I love them.  No little bits and pieces but good flavor.

I recommend the Ken Steakhouse Fat Free dressings. There is a great Raspberry Pecan and a Sun-Dried Tomato. Both are really good and have 50 and 70 calories a serving respectively.

Oh yeah, and depending on what's in your salad...salsa works as a decent dressing and they are VERY low in calories in most cases.

An old WW trick is to have the dressing on the side, but dip your fork into the dressing first then the salad. You'd be surprised how much dressing you get in each bite without getting too much!

there's a new light asian toasted sesame dressing from kraft that i like (even though it contains HFCS, boo!). 60 cals for 2TBSP.

to answer the OP, i think it's perfectly fine to use full calorie dressings in moderation if it fits your daily count and it's what you like.

My vote is for Newman's Own Lighten Up brand.  I am a huge dressing snob - tried them all.  The other thing is that dressings are expensive!

I found Newman's Own Lighten Up Low Fat Sesame Ginger (35 cals in 2 tbsp./1.5g fat) and Newman's Own Lighten Up Light Balsamic Vinaigrette (45 cals in 2 tbsp./4g fat) packaged together at Costco for under $4.  They are big 24 oz. bottles too.  I don't know how much they would be in a regular grocery store.

Best of all, they pack a ton of flavor into those 2 tbsp.  I, personally, wouldn't give up calories for dressings if there was a decent alternative.  I would rather use the calories for something I could sink my teeth into.

I try to go healthy and not worry about the calories.  I use a tablespoon of flax seed oil, which has about 130 calories, and half as much lemon juice.  I usually just add salt and pepper for taste.  the flax oil has Omega 3 essential fatty acid in it, which supposedly helps with women's hormones (man, I hope so!).

You all have given some good options for low calorie dressings.  The Newman's Own sesame ginger flavor sounds really tasty.

i second what vilarin said! ken's steak house dressings ROCK! i'm currently obsessed with the light northern italian! it's 50cals for 2 tbls. it's got cheese in it and everything. so yummy!

they make a bunch of varieties, their creamier light dressings can get up there in the cals so check the labels, but a delicious creamy ceasar for 90cals isn't bad in my book!

Because I'm a freak, I've been doing one of these options as of late:

Pepper

Yellow Mustard

Soy Sauce

I've gotten sick of all the other dressings...I needed a change. And today i mixed ketchup with mustard and used that. Delish! Strangely enough.