CloseIt’s nice to have a homemade salad dressing on hand, but c’mon, life gets busy and the convenience of store-bought salad dressings sometimes wins. But with the right dressing, you can take a plate of greens from dull to delightful. Here’s how to pick a healthy salad dressing at the grocery store that doesn’t undo the work of those veggies.Pictured Recipe:Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries1. Forget Fat-Free Salad DressingThe promise that “fat-free” is better for you is really outdated science. Research shows that your body needs some fat to absorb the healthy nutrients in veggies. To make matters worse, low-fat dressings often replace the lost flavor from fat with extra sugar.4 Foods to Choose Full-Fat2. Keep an Eye on SugarIt can be really hard to find a salad dressing without sugar. A touch of sweet is sometimes needed to balance the tang, but bottled dressings can have way too much. We found some with over 2 teaspoons (8 grams) of added sugar per 2-tablespoon serving. That’s like pouring syrup on your salad. That said, you may want to pass up dressings labeled “sugar-free” if you want toskip artificial sweeteners.3. Additives to AvoidDressings can have a long list of additives, ranging from benign thickeners, like xanthan gum, to questionable food dyes and downright unhealthy hydrogenated oils. With a little searching, you can find ones with clean ingredient lists. When in doubt, the cleanest dressings are ususally the ones with the shortest ingredient lists.Dressings We LoveMarie’s Yogurt RanchDrew’s Shiitake GingerMarie’s Chunky Blue CheeseTrader Joe’s Romano CaesarStonewall Kitchen Olive Oil & BalsamicBragg VinaigretteNumbers to Look ForServing Size:2 Tbsp.Amount Per ServingSodium= 200mgSugar= 3gFat> 0gAlso Check Out:Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for WorkWas this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmitThe 7 Best Healthy Chips You Should Buy, According to a DietitianThe 8 Best Healthy Packaged Snacks You Should Buy at Trader Joe’s10 Healthy Proteins for Salads That Add Staying PowerHow to Buy the Healthiest Frozen BurritosWhat’s Healthier: Cauliflower Pizza Crust or Whole-Wheat Pizza Crust?What Is the Best Oil for Cooking?What Is Jicama and What Are the Health Benefits?What Are Cape Gooseberries?Healthy Snacks to Stash In Your DeskThe Health Benefits of FigsBroccoli vs. Cauliflower: Which One Is Healthier?Are Cold Cuts Healthy? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to SayIs Trail Mix Actually Good for You?Here’s Exactly What Nutritionists Order at Fast-Food RestaurantsHealth Benefits of Sunflower OilIs Orzo Pasta Healthy? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to SayBy clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies

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Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries

It’s nice to have a homemade salad dressing on hand, but c’mon, life gets busy and the convenience of store-bought salad dressings sometimes wins. But with the right dressing, you can take a plate of greens from dull to delightful. Here’s how to pick a healthy salad dressing at the grocery store that doesn’t undo the work of those veggies.Pictured Recipe:Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries1. Forget Fat-Free Salad DressingThe promise that “fat-free” is better for you is really outdated science. Research shows that your body needs some fat to absorb the healthy nutrients in veggies. To make matters worse, low-fat dressings often replace the lost flavor from fat with extra sugar.4 Foods to Choose Full-Fat2. Keep an Eye on SugarIt can be really hard to find a salad dressing without sugar. A touch of sweet is sometimes needed to balance the tang, but bottled dressings can have way too much. We found some with over 2 teaspoons (8 grams) of added sugar per 2-tablespoon serving. That’s like pouring syrup on your salad. That said, you may want to pass up dressings labeled “sugar-free” if you want toskip artificial sweeteners.3. Additives to AvoidDressings can have a long list of additives, ranging from benign thickeners, like xanthan gum, to questionable food dyes and downright unhealthy hydrogenated oils. With a little searching, you can find ones with clean ingredient lists. When in doubt, the cleanest dressings are ususally the ones with the shortest ingredient lists.Dressings We LoveMarie’s Yogurt RanchDrew’s Shiitake GingerMarie’s Chunky Blue CheeseTrader Joe’s Romano CaesarStonewall Kitchen Olive Oil & BalsamicBragg VinaigretteNumbers to Look ForServing Size:2 Tbsp.Amount Per ServingSodium= 200mgSugar= 3gFat> 0gAlso Check Out:Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for WorkWas this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmitThe 7 Best Healthy Chips You Should Buy, According to a DietitianThe 8 Best Healthy Packaged Snacks You Should Buy at Trader Joe’s10 Healthy Proteins for Salads That Add Staying PowerHow to Buy the Healthiest Frozen BurritosWhat’s Healthier: Cauliflower Pizza Crust or Whole-Wheat Pizza Crust?What Is the Best Oil for Cooking?What Is Jicama and What Are the Health Benefits?What Are Cape Gooseberries?Healthy Snacks to Stash In Your DeskThe Health Benefits of FigsBroccoli vs. Cauliflower: Which One Is Healthier?Are Cold Cuts Healthy? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to SayIs Trail Mix Actually Good for You?Here’s Exactly What Nutritionists Order at Fast-Food RestaurantsHealth Benefits of Sunflower OilIs Orzo Pasta Healthy? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to SayBy clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies

It’s nice to have a homemade salad dressing on hand, but c’mon, life gets busy and the convenience of store-bought salad dressings sometimes wins. But with the right dressing, you can take a plate of greens from dull to delightful. Here’s how to pick a healthy salad dressing at the grocery store that doesn’t undo the work of those veggies.Pictured Recipe:Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries1. Forget Fat-Free Salad DressingThe promise that “fat-free” is better for you is really outdated science. Research shows that your body needs some fat to absorb the healthy nutrients in veggies. To make matters worse, low-fat dressings often replace the lost flavor from fat with extra sugar.4 Foods to Choose Full-Fat2. Keep an Eye on SugarIt can be really hard to find a salad dressing without sugar. A touch of sweet is sometimes needed to balance the tang, but bottled dressings can have way too much. We found some with over 2 teaspoons (8 grams) of added sugar per 2-tablespoon serving. That’s like pouring syrup on your salad. That said, you may want to pass up dressings labeled “sugar-free” if you want toskip artificial sweeteners.3. Additives to AvoidDressings can have a long list of additives, ranging from benign thickeners, like xanthan gum, to questionable food dyes and downright unhealthy hydrogenated oils. With a little searching, you can find ones with clean ingredient lists. When in doubt, the cleanest dressings are ususally the ones with the shortest ingredient lists.Dressings We LoveMarie’s Yogurt RanchDrew’s Shiitake GingerMarie’s Chunky Blue CheeseTrader Joe’s Romano CaesarStonewall Kitchen Olive Oil & BalsamicBragg VinaigretteNumbers to Look ForServing Size:2 Tbsp.Amount Per ServingSodium= 200mgSugar= 3gFat> 0gAlso Check Out:Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for WorkWas this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

It’s nice to have a homemade salad dressing on hand, but c’mon, life gets busy and the convenience of store-bought salad dressings sometimes wins. But with the right dressing, you can take a plate of greens from dull to delightful. Here’s how to pick a healthy salad dressing at the grocery store that doesn’t undo the work of those veggies.

Pictured Recipe:Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries

1. Forget Fat-Free Salad Dressing

The promise that “fat-free” is better for you is really outdated science. Research shows that your body needs some fat to absorb the healthy nutrients in veggies. To make matters worse, low-fat dressings often replace the lost flavor from fat with extra sugar.

4 Foods to Choose Full-Fat

2. Keep an Eye on Sugar

It can be really hard to find a salad dressing without sugar. A touch of sweet is sometimes needed to balance the tang, but bottled dressings can have way too much. We found some with over 2 teaspoons (8 grams) of added sugar per 2-tablespoon serving. That’s like pouring syrup on your salad. That said, you may want to pass up dressings labeled “sugar-free” if you want toskip artificial sweeteners.

3. Additives to Avoid

Dressings can have a long list of additives, ranging from benign thickeners, like xanthan gum, to questionable food dyes and downright unhealthy hydrogenated oils. With a little searching, you can find ones with clean ingredient lists. When in doubt, the cleanest dressings are ususally the ones with the shortest ingredient lists.

Dressings We Love

Numbers to Look For

Serving Size:2 Tbsp.Amount Per ServingSodium= 200mgSugar= 3gFat> 0gAlso Check Out:Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for WorkWas this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Amount Per Serving

Sodium= 200mgSugar= 3gFat> 0gAlso Check Out:Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for WorkWas this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Sodium= 200mgSugar= 3gFat> 0gAlso Check Out:Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work

Also Check Out:Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Tell us why!

The 7 Best Healthy Chips You Should Buy, According to a DietitianThe 8 Best Healthy Packaged Snacks You Should Buy at Trader Joe’s10 Healthy Proteins for Salads That Add Staying PowerHow to Buy the Healthiest Frozen BurritosWhat’s Healthier: Cauliflower Pizza Crust or Whole-Wheat Pizza Crust?What Is the Best Oil for Cooking?What Is Jicama and What Are the Health Benefits?What Are Cape Gooseberries?Healthy Snacks to Stash In Your DeskThe Health Benefits of FigsBroccoli vs. Cauliflower: Which One Is Healthier?Are Cold Cuts Healthy? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to SayIs Trail Mix Actually Good for You?Here’s Exactly What Nutritionists Order at Fast-Food RestaurantsHealth Benefits of Sunflower OilIs Orzo Pasta Healthy? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to Say

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By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies