These dressings are not what they seem!

Are you planning to reduce the fat from your diet and keep those calories low? If this is the case, you need to be very careful about what salad dressing you are choosing because this is the element that can make or break your meal.

Yeah, well, we all like them because they add a lot of flavor and that texture all salads should have, but these store-bought options have more fat per serving than four slices of bacon. And when this bacon has 9 grams of fat, then you know that these dressings are not the healthiest out there!

Now, please don’t get rid of all the dressings you have in the fridge since just because they have fat doesn’t mean they are that bad. Fat alone is not the enemy; it is very important what kind of fat we are talking about, how much you eat, and what your dietary goals are all together.

However, eating too much of the following picks can be dangerous because fat is the most calorie-dense macronutrient, which makes these dressings some of those that have the most calories.

Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese

This is a quite popular dressing, and people like it for its bold, tangy flavor and creamy texture. But even if this is a classic choice for salads, the nutritional content should make you think twice before eating too much of it.

A 2-tablespoon serving of Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese has 160 calories and 18 grams of fat, including 3.5 grams of saturated fat. It indeed provides some protein and calcium from the blue cheese, but if you plan to use it frequently, the fat it has makes it not the best choice out there.

If you are looking for a healthier alternative, you should consider a yogurt-based option like Bolthouse Farms. This dressing has a similar flavor to that of blue cheese but is much lighter with fewer calories and less fat. Generally, a 2-tablespoon serving of Bolthouse Farms has around 50 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Wish-Bone Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing

There are a lot of dressings on the market, but this is the favorite one when it comes to using it as a dip. This is another creamy blue cheese dressing, but the good part is that this is more on the lighter side when you compare it to other cheese dressings.

A 2-tablespoon serving of Wish-Bone’s Chunky Blue Cheese contains 110 calories and 11 grams of fat, including 2 grams of saturated fat. Yes, it might be lower than some similar brands, but considering how small the portion size is, this should concern you.

If you want blue cheese dressings and do not feel guilty about it, you can try to add some plain Greek yogurt to your salad to make it creamy but with fewer calories. If this is not flavorful enough for you, adding a splash of vinegar will guarantee you get that aroma you are looking for.

Kraft Thousand Island

This is one of the favorites because its sweet taste can elevate any salad or sandwich. Few dressings can compare to this one, but its nutritional content is concerning. A 2-tablespoon serving of Kraft Thousand Island packs 130 calories and 13 grams of fat, including 2 grams of saturated fat. The problem here is its creamy base, which is made from a blend of oil and mayonnaise. It’s not the healthiest choice, but hopefully, you can use some tricks to make it a little bit better.

Again, try to mix it with some yogurt. This will keep the texture almost intact while making the dressing lighter. Another thing that works great with Kraft Thousand Island is tomatoes. They give it an amazing taste, and since you already have tomatoes, you will be tempted to use less sauce to make the dressing. This is an efficient trick we wholeheartedly recommend.

Newman’s Own Parmesan and Roasted Garlic Dressing

Just reading its name tells you that this is one of the tastiest dressings you can buy! It has a unique flavor that sets it aside from the traditional dressings you can find on this list. With its blend of Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic, it adds a savory, umami-rich taste to your meals.

Unfortunately, a 2-tablespoon serving of this dressing contains 110 calories and 11 grams of fat. Yes, this might not seem like a lot compared to other dressings, but you should still be mindful of the portion sizes. Most of the fat in this dressing comes from the oil, but the parmesan cheese also contributes to the overall fat and calorie count.

One smart way to eat this dressing and feel its amazing flavor without overindulging is to use it as a drizzle. Drizzle it over roasted vegetables or grilled meats to give them that kick of flavor without adding too many extra calories. Also, you can try using it as a dip for vegetables. Carrots, celery, or cucumber slices taste incredible when you pair them with this dressing.

If you want to try something a little bit different, you can mix this garlic sauce with balsamic vinegar to create a low-calorie sauce that’s perfect for salads.

Brianna’s Home Style Classic Buttermilk Ranch

Who doesn’t love some good old ranch? We surely do, and this is why we consider this sauce a top choice. It’s creamy, it’s tasty, it is affordable—the perfect dressing. But when you hear that a 2-tablespoon serving of Brianna’s Buttermilk Ranch packs 170 calories and 17 grams of fat, which is more than the fat content of four slices of bacon, things are not that sunny anymore.

This is one of the dressings that has the most fat, and a huge percentage of it comes from the oils and buttermilk used in the dressing. But this doesn’t mean you should stop eating ranch forever. Not even close. But you can try to make it lighter.

If you plan to eat less of it, you can use it as a dip for vegetables and meat. Even more, thinning it out works great, and you can try this by mixing the ranch with low-fat milk or yogurt. This will be like a new version with fewer calories.

If you want to use less of it but you still want all the flavor, you can add some herbs to make everything better. Dill, parsley, or garlic powder can enhance the flavor of the dressing without adding calories.

Newman’s Own Avocado Oil & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Greek

If you are a fan of Greek dressings, this is probably your first choice when you are planning to eat a salad. made with high-quality oils like avocado and extra virgin olive oil, this is a healthy version, full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

But considering that a 2-tablespoon serving of this dressing contains 160 calories and 18 grams of fat, you should be careful with the portion size. Hopefully, this dressing is better than others on this list because the fats it contains are the healthy ones. Unfortunately, if your goal is to shred those pounds, this is not helping at all. At least short term.

If you want to make the most out of this dressing while also reducing the calorie number, you can try to pair it with lean protein, such as grilled chicken or fish, or dilute it with lemon juice or vinegar before adding it to your salad.

Do you want to learn how to make your own dressings? This book is amazing for anyone planning to begin this journey: Dressings: Over 200 Recipes for the Perfect Salads, Marinades, Sauces, and Dips 

You should also read: Servers Won’t Eat These 11 Shocking Things at Their Own Restaurants!