When we decide to put together a salad recipe, the next thing we consider is the kind of salad dressing. If you’re not particular of your fat consumption, your salad could contain as much fat and calories as a bacon cheeseburger. A mayonnaise-based salad dressing can smother efforts if you’re trying to lose weight. Saturated fat is notorious to cause obesity and heart disease. You can still have healthy salad dressing options that won’t ruin your diet. Try the following:
Oil and Vinegar
The best option is oil and vinegar. It’s usually a combination of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Since balsamic vinegar is known flavorful, mixing it along with olive oil creates vinaigrette with tremendous health benefits. For two tablespoons of olive oil, you can use as much vinegar as you like. I like adding a touch of lemon to this salad dressing option. The drops of lemon into my vinaigrette bring zest to my whole salad entree.
Yogurt Salad Dressing
If you are not aware yet, you can use plain yogurt as salad dressing base. Using yogurt instead of mayonnaise as a base for your dressing is a healthy alternative to customary recipes. Your body needs a healthy amount of ”good” bacteria in the digestive tract, and most yogurts are made using active, good bacteria. For a creamier consistency, you can blend the plain yogurt with other ingredients like Dijon mustard and chives. When using a richer ingredient for your mixture, use fat-free or low-fat plain yogurt.
Avocado Salad Dressing
Don’t be afraid of calories in avocado. Moderate amounts of unsaturated fats are good for the heart and skin. To make a healthy salad dressing, try a combination of avocado and parsley. The mild mixture is refreshing when sprinkled over a tossed green salad. Avocado and crushed garlic, lemon juice, and sea salt is another worth trying salad dressing. If you are planning to mix by shaking, use a fork first to mash the avocado.
Cottage Cheese and Dill
Cottage cheese is known a good source of calcium and protein which when combined with dill produces a flavorful and healthy salad dressing combination. Try mixing half a cup of cottage cheese and freshly chopped dill. Salt and pepper are all you need to season. For my cottage cheese, I like to top it with nice fresh or canned fruit juice, but cucumber and a little salt olives are enough to make it a favorite. Get a low-fat cottage cheese with less than five grams of fat per serving.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to make your own. In fact, all healthy salad dressing should begin in your own kitchen. Amaze yourself at how salad dressings can be one of the easiest things to make. Remember that nothing dresses up greens so well as a homemade dressing. If you’re not using olive oil, try hazelnut or walnut oil. Nut oils considerably exude fragrance for salad dressings.
