Feel good about what’s going on your food: Super simple Balsamic Vinaigrette

People assume that because they’re eating a salad, it’s healthy. But not so fast here…

Remember how excited everyone was when they found out  french fries have less calories than a caesar salad?

Now, it’s not all about calories. And the thing with caesar salad dressing is that it can be loaded with unhealthy fats.

But any salad dressing really can. It’s a place where all those pesky little things hide. Gluten for example is in many salad dressings. They’re full of GMO’s, MSG, and trans fats.

But it get’s worse….

Watch for these ingredients before tossing that salad dressing in your cart:

Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles. Never heard of this? Here’s why: A) Because it’s clearly not a food…. I mean you can tell from the name it’s not exactly something your neighbour has growing in their garden. And B) Companies aren’t required to tell you when this is in their products. Because it is typically used to make things appear more white, expect to find it in cream dressings. Ps. It’s what’s also used in sunscreens

High-Fructose corn syrup. Yeah, not just for candy. Usually also contains mercury. SO don’t mix with tuna?

GMOs. Genetically modified anything… no thanks.

MSG. You probably don’t see this on the label either. It’s a sneaky one… it hides. Instead, check for gelatin, yeast extract, whey protein, soy protein, and natural flavouring

So, I mean, you wouldn’t exactly mix together salt, corn syrup, sunscreen, and gelatin and add it to your meal would you? So don’t have someone else do it for you.

I started making my own salad dressings about a year ago when I decided to do a week of gluten and dairy free.  I realized it wasn’t just about cutting out milk in my coffee and toast with breakfast. It’s in sauces. Packaged foods. And almost anything you’ll find at a restaurant.

I love to cook  and enjoy creating real meals from real whole foods.

Not only is it fun, but you feel so much better about what you’re eating.

When I get an evening to myself, my favourite thing to do is pour a FAT glass of cab, turn on a podcast, and prep our food for the week. It’s therapeutic.

…this is of course usually followed by another fat glass of wine, a face mask, and real housewives…

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tsp honey

1 tsp dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic, minced

juice of 1/2 lemon

pepper to taste (I like lots!)

What you gotta do:

Just mix everything together 🙂 I find mixing it in a glass measuring cup helps because you can skip a step with actually measuring and pouring. Make sure the garlic is minced well to avoid any huge clumps.

Go ahead and store in your fridge for the week! And make sure to shake up before using

Even if you do decide to throw in a little bacon or some cheese, you know you don’t have to feel guilty about adding extra dressing 😉

Happy meal prep everyone!

XOXO