Trade-Up Tuesday: Salad Dressing
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday, a great day here on A Better Bag of Groceries. Every Tuesday, I blog about a Trade Up I’ve made since I’ve learned about NuVal scores and I give away something for free.
You know, I’ve done so many Trade Up Tuesdays now. Truth be told, it’s getting a little harder to think of shelf-stable items that I have truly traded up to and that I can package up for you and send to you in the mail. It’s not easy. As I was wracking my brain, trying to figure out what this week’s Trade Up Tuesday should be, it suddenly dawned on me. I have made a huge change in one area of the supermarket: Salad Dressing. I absolutely no longer buy the bottled stuff. Not. At. All.
When I saw the abysmal scores for salad dressings, it made me re-think the whole idea of buying bottled dressing. Not to mention, the ingredients list is pretty pathetic. For example, here are the ingredients for Wish-Bone Light Ranch:
Water, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors (Milk), Soybean Oil, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Sugar, Garlic Juice, Onion Juice, Cellulose Gel, Lactic Acid, Distilled Vinegar, Chives, Monosodium Glutamate, Onion Powder, Xanthan Gum, Garlic Powder, Garlic, Color Added.
Ewwwww.
Soon after I began working for NuVal, I found myself no longer buying salad dressing. Instead, I make a simple mixture of extra virgin olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, Kosher salt, and black pepper. That’s it. Nothing more. The only downside to my dressing is that it tends to solidify in the refrigerator. So, you need to take it out and stick it in a measuring cup of warm water before serving. No big deal.
Now, if you are interested in knowing which of the bottled brands get the best NuVal scores, I can tell you:
- Full Circle Organic Raspberry Vinaigrette: 21
- Emerill’s Vinaigrette: 23
- Kraft Light Creamy Reduced Fat: 28
- Annie’s Natural’s Raspberry Vinaigrette Light: 23
Today’s Giveaway
Today, I’ve assembled the ingredients I use for my very basic salad dressing: olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, Kosher salt, and black pepper. Also included is the Good Seasons Italian All Natural Cruet Kit. It has a couple packets of salad dressing mix in it, which you could use – or not. But the reason I included this kit is for the glass cruet. This is what you need to make your own homemade salad dressing. It’s healthy and eco-friendly! One lucky commenter will win my salad dressing kit. Just leave a comment below, telling me what you would put in your salad. You can enter twice by telling me the NuVal scores for those items. Hint: you can find some sample scores by searching this blog or www.tradingupdowntown.com or at www.nuval.com. I will choose one winner at 7 am EDT on Wednesday morning, so don’t delay!
Posted by: Melissa 66 comments
Posted in: Salad, Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Salad, Salad dressing
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 8:22 am
I love mango and pumpkin seeds in my salad, defintely different but tasty!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 8:26 am
Dried cranberries, pecans and a sprinkling of goat cheese. Oh yum!!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 8:27 am
Mango is 93 per Nuval
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 8:55 am
I’d put in tofu, beets, and mandarin orange slice. Yum-o
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:13 am
Love to add chopped walnuts to my salads for crunch
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:13 am
Walnuts are an 82
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:14 am
Love to put chopped dates in my salad. Yummy!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:17 am
I add Feta cheese!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:19 am
Athenos feta scores a 24
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:29 am
Romaine, kale, sunflower seeds, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, feta and grilled chicken. Yummy!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:30 am
Broccoli is an impressive 100!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:36 am
Avocado is my favorite salad topping.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:37 am
and avocado scores an 89!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:39 am
I add crushed pretzels in place of croutons
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:40 am
Glutino pretzels score a 1 (boo!)
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:42 am
Avocado, tomato, cucumber, red and yellow pepper, onion, sea salt, salmon, Goddess dressing.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:43 am
ooohh…this is a fantastic giveaway! I love to put avocado on top of my salads!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:44 am
And my beloved avocado has a nuval score of 89!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:49 am
I like lots of fruit in my salads – strawberries, blueberries, mango, pineapple, cherries, whatever!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:52 am
For me, a great salad always includes tomatoes!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:53 am
And I believe tomatoes score in the high 90′s.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:08 am
Roasted broccoli and other veggies are a delish warm contrast to a cold crisp salad
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:08 am
Woohoo for Broccoli clocking in at 100
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:16 am
I love chopped nuts in my salads for the crunch.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:28 am
Love fresh pineapple chunks on my salad
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:29 am
Pineapple scores a 99 on the Nuval charts
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:44 am
Definitely avocados!!!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:45 am
Nuval score is 89!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:52 am
Broccoli is one of my additions
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:52 am
Go Broccoli it scores 100!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:54 am
my favorite salad is spinach, goat cheese, beets, and balsamic!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 10:58 am
Maybe I should look a little harder for home made salad dressing recipes. Thanks again for the information.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 11:30 am
OMG! I have changed to the exact same salad dressing or if I don’t do the Good seasons I use olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and a little sea salt. So much better tasting and definitely less waste.
Fresh parmesan slices of cheese go on my salad.I’m not sure of the score, sorry.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 11:33 am
I would make a simple salad of dried cranberries and Gorgonzola with organic spinach and grilled chicken.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 11:38 am
My favorite salad: Lettuce, garbanzo beans, raw mushrooms, kalamata olives and scallions!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 11:39 am
The scores for my perfect salad are:
Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast- 39
Spinach- Allens Popeye Regular Spinach 13.5oz (canned) Vegetables 82 (I would use fresh which I imagine is a little higher)
The gorgonzola and nuts aren’t on their. I feel pretty good for the choices I made but now know I should substitute the chicken with shrimp or salmon!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 11:40 am
*There
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I have to have fresh garlic…and I usually toss in some pecans or almonds.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 12:59 pm
I love putting walnuts, chicken, feta, black beans, edamane and avocado in my salads — usually not all at the same time.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Walnuts score an 82.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I love kitchen sink salads…..EVERYTHING IS GOOD IN A SALAD!
Avocado, tomatoes and onion are a must though
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I love romaine hearts with feta and tomatoes!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I put in beets, some kind of bean, and either a sprinkling of goat cheese or nuts (sometimes both)!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Athenos brand of feta scores a 24!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Love eating cold salads of beets, spinach, oranges and feta cheese!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 3:35 pm
I love eating really crisp lettuce with avacado, tomato & peppercinis. I use mustard as my dressing, just plain ol’ yellow mustard! The combination of the mustard with the spice from the peppercinis, the acid in the tomatoa and the mildness of the avacado are amazing!!!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 3:56 pm
I like a little goat cheese and some beautiful cherry tomatoes on top of my salad!
I also have another question about your post. Have you tried not refrigerating the dressing? I would think that since olive oil and vinegar do not normally need to be kept cold, that it would be ok to leave the dressing at room temp. Thanks for your thoughts on that!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 4:21 pm
i use romaine, cucumbers, and shredded carrots
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 4:30 pm
I love apples and sunflower kernals in my salad!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, celery, croutons, goat cheese and walnuts or some other kind of nut. Oh, and don’t forget the avocado!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Gosh, I can’t really decide. I love too many combination of salads. I’d say my favorite is a salad with lots of yummy fruit: lettuce,stawberries,pineapple,blueberries,walnuts,and poppyseed dressing. Yummy, yummy!!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I make the same dressing with the addition of minced garlic and lemon juice. I throw mine in the microwave for a few seconds and give it a good shake.
I top my salads with feta cheese, olives and avocado
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 4:58 pm
All the fruit in my salad score a 95 or better!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
goat cheese, nuts and hard-boiled eggs! yum.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I put is Feta cheese(Sodium , I know), chic peas and a hard boiled egg . Sometimes very lean chicken. Makes my lunch a treat!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I like sunflower seeds in my salad. I also love feta but don’t use that as much.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Feta makes any salad better!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 7:01 pm
It scores a 24.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Black olives, avocado, and chickpeas are a must!
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 9:13 pm
I’d put avocado, almonds, feta and olives in it!
on Sep 1st, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Figs, goat cheese, arugula & spinach!
on Sep 1st, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Dijon mustard
on Sep 2nd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I keep it simple…olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
on Sep 6th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
romaine, avocado, grape tomatoes, roasted corn, roasted red peppers and black beans.
on Sep 9th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
What is your opinion on Galeo’s salad dressing? I really like it and the ingredient list looks decent to me but just wondering. Thanks
on Sep 5th, 2011 at 11:48 am
[...] one too! Most salad dressings score really low on the NuVal scale– check out what Melissa of A Better Bag of Groceries has to say about bottle salad dressings: I have made a huge change in one area of the [...]