Raspberry vinaigrette (better than store bought) | Shift down (2024)

FAQs

Is store bought salad dressing highly processed? ›

Here are the main ingredients of most salad dressings: Oils: They are often made with shelf-stable oils like canola and other vegetable oils that are highly processed and cause inflammation in our body. Sugar: The sugar content is often high and that's why we like it.

So the next time you're dressing a salad, reach for the balsamic vinegar–in the long run, not ingesting that extra fat and sugar makes a big difference!

Alternative Raspberry Vinegar Options to Explore

Lemon juice, champagne vinegar and rice vinegar are top alternatives.

And at the top of that list? Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

The sad truth is that, while they're convenient, bottled dressings are typically high in sodium, sugar, saturated fat and calories–even the organic ones. Annegret Kessler is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Colorado Mountain Medical.

Ranch Dressing

The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings. It is made from a number of ingredients such as buttermilk, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onion, chives, salt, and pepper.

Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest. The exception? We like products made with healthy swaps—think Greek yogurt in place of mayo or heavy cream.

But that doesn't mean you should skip the dressing. Studies have shown that fats — such as in avocados — actually help your body absorb the nutrients from some vegetables. The key is to choose the right ingredients and, ideally, make your own dressing at home.

Raspberry vinegar is rich in antioxidants, which protect your cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. These antioxidants contribute to overall health and may even help reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

What can you put on salad instead of dressing? ›

Add herbs and spices to give your salad bold flavors of the world. Mix in different combinations of fresh and dried herbs and spices to achieve different flavors. Try fresh oregano, basil, and thyme for an Italian-style flavor, or cumin, coriander, and sumac for a Middle Eastern vibe, for example.

While feta cheese provides you with an excellent source of nutrients like calcium and protein, it also contains high amounts of sodium and saturated fat. Feta is lower in fat than many other cheeses, however, and is considered a reasonable option to eat in moderation.

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Pour raspberry vinegar into a clean bottle or jar and seal tightly. Refrigerate or store in a cool dark place; use within 6 months.

Ultra-processed foods might also sneak their way into your diet as condiments, including ketchup, salad dressing and sauces.

Packaged Salads Are a Convenient Processed Food.

The two dressings are roughly equivalent in terms of fat content, but store-bought ranch is the prototypical processed food, with an ingredients list that includes modified corn starch, monosodium glutamate, sodium lactate, polysorbate 60, et cetera.

Some types of salad dressings that are often high in sodium include Caesar, blue cheese and Thousand Island. Just like with sugar, Rifkin said the amount of salad dressing you may use is likely higher than what the nutrition label lists as a serving size.