When it comes to maintaining a healthy diet, salad dressings can often be deceptive. Many products on supermarket shelves are laden with surprising amounts of sugar, transforming what should be a nutritious meal into an unhealthy treat. Understanding which salad dressings to avoid can empower consumers to make better food choices. Below, we explore seven of the unhealthiest salad dressings based on their sugar content per two-tablespoon serving, shedding light on some of the worst offenders in the market.
Wish-Bone Russian Salad Dressing
Wish-Bone’s Russian Salad Dressing stands out with a staggering 6 grams of added sugar per serving. This dressing’s ingredients also include soybean oil and corn syrup, categorizing it as an ultraprocessed food. When using this dressing, it’s wise to measure out portions to keep sugar intake in check.
Great Value Honey Mustard Dressing & Dip
Another contender, Great Value’s Honey Mustard Dressing & Dip, also contains 6 grams of sugar per serving, thanks in part to its inclusion of soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup. While its sweet flavor can enhance salads, this dressing is far from a health-conscious option.
Good & Gather Organic Raspberry Vinaigrette
Moving on to Good & Gather’s Organic Raspberry Vinaigrette, this dressing packs a hefty 8 grams of sugar per serving. Although the brand promotes it as organic, the sugar content remains significant, indicating that healthy-sounding labels do not always guarantee a low-sugar product.
Maple Grove Farms Fat-Free Honey Dijon
Maple Grove Farms’ Fat-Free Honey Dijon dressing offers a misleading notion of health. With 9 grams of sugar per serving, it highlights the common misconception that “fat-free” inherently means healthy. Often, sugars replace fats to enhance flavor, undermining the health claims.
Ken’s Steak House Country French (Lite)
Containing 10 grams of sugar per serving, Ken’s Steak House Country French (Lite) dressing may be marketed as a lighter option, yet its sugar content tells a different story. Many consumers may overlook this detail, swayed by the perception of fewer calories and less fat.
Ken’s Steak House Fat Free Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing
Tied for the highest sugar content, Ken’s Steak House Fat Free Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing contains 12 grams of sugar per serving. The first listed ingredient is high fructose corn syrup, raising alarms about its overall nutritional value.
Wish-Bone Western Original
Completing our list is Wish-Bone Western Original dressing, which matches Ken’s with 12 grams of sugar per serving. Like its counterpart, this dressing features high fructose corn syrup prominently, making it important to be mindful of portion sizes, especially since it can be easy to exceed the recommended amount.
In summary, when choosing salad dressings, be sure to read labels carefully. Many products touted as healthy might be loaded with sugars. Opt for dressings that are low in sugar or consider making your own to enjoy flavorful salads without hidden health risks.
