Why Homemade Salad Dressing?
Fresh, healthy salads
are good for you-right?
Nutritious veggies are
reat but what about
that commercial salad
dressing? Check out
the difference in
homemade and
commercial salad
ressings, then try
these easy salad dressing
recipes.
Unhealthy Ingredients
in Commercial Salad Dressings
Have you checked that
bottle of store-bought
dressing in your frig?
Two teaspoons of Kraft Balsamic Salad dressing contains 90 calories, 72 of them from fat. Other unhealthy ingredients in store-bought dressings include sugar, corn syrup (more sugar) salt, preservative, artificial colors and partially hydrogenated oils or trans-fats. Most commercial dressings also contain mostly soybean oil, which isn't the healthiest of oils, only the lest expensive.
What kind of oil is in your bottled salad dressing?
Some oils are actually good for you-extra virgin olive oil, walnut oil, grapeseed oil, flaxseed oil and peanut oil actually work to lower the “bad” cholesterol in your blood and contain vitamins and other nutrients which are good for you.
Try These Nutritious, Healthy Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
Who needs all those unnecessary ingredients when homemade dressing is so quick and easy? Here a some dressings which contain all fresh, nutritious, good for you ingredients.
Balsamic Dressing
Recipe Ingredients
1/4 cup/60 mL balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup/60 mL minced green onion
2 tbsp/30 mL German-Style Mustard
1-1/2 tbsp/25 mL Grapeseed or Olive Oil
1 tbsp/15 mL water
1 tsp/5 mL Tarragon
Recipe Directions
Whisk all ingredients together until well-combined. Chill at least 30 minutes.
Makes about 3/4 cup/180 mL, 2 tbsp/30 mL per serving.
Nutrition Facts for this Recipe
2 tbsp/30 mL per serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories 40
Protein 0 g
Carbohydrates 4 g
Sodium 1 mg
Fat 3 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Compare calories and fat from the homemade recipe above to Kraft Bottled Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Serving Size 2 tbsp (31.0 g)
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Calories 90 Calories from Fat 72
Total Fat 8.0g
Saturated Fat 1.0g
Sodium 300mg
Total Carbohydrates 4.0g
Sugars 3.0g
Protein 0.0g
You will save 50 calories, 299mg of sodium and 5grams of fat by making your own dressing. Plus, the above recipe uses heart-healthy grapeseed oil.
Honey-Lemon Dressing Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
1/4 cup/60 mL lemon juice
2 tbsp/30 mL honey
2 tbsp/30 mL Grapeseed or olive Oil
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Basil
To taste, freshly-ground Sea Salt
To taste, Black Pepper —6 oz
Recipe Directions
Combine all ingredients in shaker container or glass jar with tight-fitting lid. Shake until all ingredients are well-combined. Chill until serving time.
Makes 1/2 cup/125 mL, 1 tbsp/ 15 mL per serving.
Nutrition Facts for this Recipe
1 tbsp/ 15 mL per serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories 40
Protein 0 g
Carbohydrates 5 g
Sodium 0 mg
Fat 3 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Dietary Fiber 0 g
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