Weight Watchers Salad Dressing Recipes | Yummy, Cheap & Fast
My husband and I have been trying to eat better. One of the biggest motivating factors for me is that my little girl looks exactly like me, is built like me and has an appetite like mine! I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life, and I feel like I owe it to her to figure this out! It’s so important to teach kids how to lead healthy lives. After all, I would hate for her to go through some of the dark times I’ve had in my struggle with weight. That’s not what I want for her. So, technically, it’s not what I want for me either! We are ALL worth it. Eat right so you can feel great and look great. It just makes sense!
So, where was I? Oh, yeah. We’ve been eating more healthy. We’ve incorporated a more balanced diet which includes a lot of raw veggies and unprocessed food. One of our favorite side dishes is tossed salad with romaine lettuce and fresh baby spinach. But, when you add that high-fat or high-calorie (or even high SUGAR?) salad dressing it kind of ruins it. Heck, I might as well have a Twinkie! But, before you give up on salads, check out our Top 5 Favorite Salad Dressings you can whip up in about a minute! They’re easy and cheap, and they taste SO good you might find your family using it on everything on their plate! That’s okay though, they also make great marinades and dips for just about anything. And, believe it or not, they really ARE that good!!
Comparing salad dressing, regular Hidden Valley Ranch has 140 calories per serving (2 tablespoons). Hidden Valley Ranch Light has just 40 calories. But, really, who uses just 2 tablespoons on a nice big salad? They still don’t compare to our super-low calorie dressing recipes. As a rule, vinegar-based dressings are much lower in calories than creamy dressings.
Like this recipe? REPIN IT on Pinterest!
Basil Vinaigrette Dressing
Calories: ~ 0 calories per tablespoon!
Pictured above, this dressing or marinade is UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!! Scrumptious as a marinade on seafood and chicken! I added a spray of zero-calorie margarine (it’s in a spray bottle) to the lobster pictured above and just about went into a coma it was so delicious. It’s also fantastic as a dressing for lettuce salads. Try adding chopped bell peppers for an extra treat.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cube (1 clove) garlic
- 1 cube (1 cup) basil
~ I like the frozen Dorot cubes of garlic and basil available at Walmart - salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
- Blend in blender or food processor until smooth
- Great with freshly ground pepper
Cover tightly and store in refrigerator for up to a week.
Orange Ginger Dressing
Calories: ~ 5 calories per tablespoon
This is the best dressing on lettuce salads, mixed greens! It’s also very good as a marinade on chicken and pork.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice (careful to use freshly squeezed, or no-sugar added OJ)
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Ginger
- Two packets (2 t) Stevia or artificial sweetener
Directions:
- Blend in blender or food processor until smooth
Cover tightly and store in refrigerator for up to a week.
Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
Calories: ~ 7.5 calories per tablespoon
Excellent on shrimp + romaine lettuce salad with diced tomatoes. Use as a salad dressing or marinade. So yummy!!
Ingredients:
- Half a cup of red wine vinegar
- Half a cup of balsamic vinegar
- Two packets (2 t) Stevia or artificial sweetener
- One cube (1 clove) garlic
- One cube (1 t) cilantro
~ I like the frozen Dorot cubes of garlic and cilantro available at Walmart - 1/4 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
Directions:
- Blend in blender or food processor until smooth
- Add garlic sea salt from grinder for added zing!
Cover tightly and store in refrigerator for up to a week.
Sweet Lemon Pepper Vinaigrette
Calories: ~ 5 calories per Tablespoon
Great on chopped veggies or salads, or adds a lemon-pepper taste to meats as a marinade.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon orange juice
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cube (1 clove) garlic
~ I like the frozen Dorot cubes of garlic available at Walmart - Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
- Blend in blender or food processor until smooth
Cover tightly and store in refrigerator for up to a week.