If you like mayonnaise and salad dressing, but are confused by the choices available, here’s an easy lesson:
-Regular mayonnaise or salad dressing contains 60 to 100 calories per tablespoon.
-Reduced-calorie, light or "lite" mayonnaise contains 20 to 50 calories per tablespoon.
-Regular cholesterol-free mayonnaise and salad dressing have 60 to 120 calories per tablespoon but do not contain cholesterol because the egg yolk has been omitted.
-Reduced-calorie, light or "lite" cholesterol-free mayonnaise contains 20 to 50 calories per tablespoon and also has no cholesterol.
-Vinaigrette-type bottled salad dressings are made from vegetable oils and are cholesterol-free but can contain 45 to 100 calories and 4 to 9 grams of fat per tablespoon. The total oil content has been cut in the reduced-calorie counterparts, which in many cases are oil-free. Recipes for salad dressings typically use 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. Try using 1 part oil to 1 part vinegar. Mild vinegars with flavorings such as balsamic or raspberry reduce tartness.
-Creamy bottled salad dressings vary widely in fat content, cholesterol and calorie counts. Many bottled dressings average 60 to 80 calories and 6 to 8 grams of fat per tablespoon, while the reduced-calorie versions are one-quarter to one-half that amount.