A: Vegetables, as you have probably heard, are a great addition to any meal plan. They are low in calories and fat, while high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and other health-promoting compounds that are thought to fight disease.

However, consuming additional fat and calories along with those vegetables is not exactly what the National Cancer Institute has intended. Creamy, high fat dressings are not only loaded with calories which can contribute to weight gain, but their saturated fat content is not what the cardiologist ordered. While many veggies taste great all on their own, for those who need a little pizzazz, healthier options do exist. Lemon juice, flavored vinegars and fat free or low fat dressings are all good choices. To make your own light dressing, take a regular salad dressing and pour off some of the oil that rises to the top. Add back equivalent amounts of water or flavored vinegar (balsamic is my favorite) for an instant, low-fat salad topping. Note: You can also do this with bottled light dressings to reduce the fat further.

To make a tangy, low-fat dressing, mix plain nonfat yogurt with herbs, a smidgen of sugar, and some low-fat buttermilk. This is also good on baked potatoes. Juices are other tasty options. To make orange-balsamic dressing, mix two tablespoons of orange juice concentrate, one-quarter cup of balsamic vinegar, one teaspoon of honey or sugar, and two finely minced scallions. Toss this dressing with orange slices and romaine lettuce for a sweet salad. Enjoy!

Bookmark:

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed