Just plain lettuce!

When I was growing up I always thought salad dressing was a taboo item! Everyone that I knew who was on a diet always claimed that if you use dressing on a salad, you would gain weight. People really believed that back then, but I can’t understand why some people still believe that now?

Why Use Salad Dressing?

#1 You need healthy fat sources in order for your body to be able to absorb the nutrients in some vegetables.
#2 When we eat healthy fat sources it leaves us feeling full and it sends signals to our brain that we are satisfied. When we feel full, we don’t feel deprived.

Ditch the low fat, no fat, no taste salad dressings and instead opt for a homemade one or one that has real ingredients listed on the label. Store bought dressings often use poor quality ingredients, chemicals and preservatives, so read the ingredient label if you are buying salad dressings. If the list is long or there are ingredients that you can’t pronounce or know what they are, put it back on the shelf!

Portion control is key. Don’t make the mistake of pouring the dressing straight from the bottle over your healthy salad because chances are you’re taking more than you need. 1 to 2 tablespoons should be sufficient 🙂

Salad dressings are so simple to make – you could just blend oil, vinegar and spices and it would be fabulous. Store the dressing in a mason jar or container so you can have a fabulous salad in minutes!

My Simple Super Salad:

Toss in a large serving bowl the following. Adjust the quantities as needed!

  • 3-4 cups of your favorite mix of salad greens
  • 1 cup of edamame beans
  • 1 fresh mango cut into chunks
  • 1 cup of cooked quinoa
  • 1/4 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup of raw sunflower seeds

Shari’s Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbs. Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbs. balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tbs. maple syrup
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
Put all the ingredients in a glass storage jar and shake. Use as needed and store the rest in the fridge.

I’d love to know how you make your homemade salad dressings!
Please comment below 🙂

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