Salad season is here. But if you’re topping your gorgeous greens with store-bought salad dressing, you might be pouring on more than just flavor — you could be adding inflammatory oils, artificial preservatives, excess sugar, and other questionable ingredients.
Most conventional dressings are loaded with highly processed seed oils like soybean or canola, which are cheap for manufacturers but not great for your health. Many also contain artificial flavors, gums, thickeners, and sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup. Even dressings labeled “light” or “low-fat” often make up for reduced fat with extra sugar or synthetic additives. It’s a lot of junk for something that’s supposed to go on a healthy salad.
The good news? Homemade dressing is ridiculously easy to make — no fancy gadgets needed. A simple vinaigrette takes just a few minutes: mix 3 parts olive oil with 1 part vinegar or lemon juice, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and you’re done. From there, you can get creative with fresh herbs, garlic, mustard, or a splash of honey.
Craving something creamy? Blend in ingredients like avocado, tahini, yogurt, or nut butters. These whole food additions offer richness without the weird ingredients, and they double as flavorful marinades too.
Making your own dressing gives you total control over what you’re eating — no mystery oils, no preservatives, just clean, real-food ingredients. Keep a few jars in the fridge, and you’ll never reach for the bottled stuff again.
Once you try homemade, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
