Top Ten Least Healthy 'Salads'

www.DrWeigh.com

Top Ten Least Healthy 'Salads': in no particular order

1. Taco salad- The beef, cheese, and sour cream make this a calorie nightmare. And that is before you add on the shell!

2. Tuna salad- Tuna itself is great... but the mayonnaise ruins it!

3. Potato salad- Carbs and mayo- not a great combination.

4. Caesar salad- Caesar salad wins the marketing prize. For some reason, everybody thinks it is healthy. But it is horrendous. The dressing, the cheese, and the croutons all add up to a disaster.

5. Chicken salad- Again, the mayonnaise makes this a nutritional no-no.

6. Any type of Crispy salad- Crispy equals fried. Enough said.

7. Macaroni salad- A white starch and mayonnaise. Not a healthy ingredient to be found!

8. Shrimp salad- I suppose this is the best of the worst. Still, not a great choice.

9. Cobb salad- Blue cheese, eggs, and bacon. Can you feel a heart attack coming on?

10. Egg salad- One of the worst!

Now- let's try to make these into healthy meals.

1. Taco salad- Skip the beef and order chicken instead. Hold the cheese and sour cream. Instead, ask for a small amount of heart healthy guacamole and lots of salsa! And definitely don't eat that taco shell!

2. Tuna salad- Use tuna packed in water, not oil. Instead of regular mayonnaise, opt for fat-free or low-fat mayonnaise and use it sparingly!

3. Potato salad- There isn't much you can do with the potatoes, but you can use fat-free or low-fat mayonnaise.

4. Caesar salad- Pass on the cheese and croutons. If possible, use a fat-free Caesar dressing. If that is not an option, ask for the dressing on the side. Mix a small amount of the dressing with balsamic vinegar (not vinegarette) to dilute. Use this mixture sparingly!

5. Chicken salad- Fat-free or low-fat mayonnaise will drastically reduce fat and calories!

6. Any type of Crispy salad- Order your protein grilled instead of fried. Your heart will thank you later.

7. Macaroni salad- Use a whole grain pasta and fat-free or low-fat salad dressing.

8. Shrimp salad- I am sure you can guess this trick... fat-free or low-fat salad dressing.

9. Cobb salad- How about using egg whites and turkey bacon? Also, try a fat-free blue cheese dressing, if possible. If not, quickly dip your empty fork into the dressing before spearing the lettuce. This gives each bite a small burst of flavor without all the calories and fat.

10. Egg salad- Egg whites and fat-free or low-fat mayonnaise. Voila! Your meal is healthy.

** Note that low-fat mayonnaise is not the same as light mayonnaise. Light mayonnaise has many more calories and fat grams and is not anywhere near as healthy.