Healthy Diabetes-Friendly Salad Dressings (Recipes & Products) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best salad dressing for a diabetic to use? ›

Choose dressings made with avocado oil, olive oil or vegetable oils like canola, sunflower and safflower. But stay away from dressing that's high in saturated fat, which can lead to inflammation and chronic illness, possibly making your diabetes harder to control.

Watch out for super-creamy dressings such as ranch and bleu cheese — the ADA lists these as foods to avoid — and limit your intake of low-fat creamy dressings, such as light ranch, to occasional treats.

Thousand Island dressing typically contains added sugars. In commercial varieties, sugar contributes to the flavor and texture. For instance, a serving might include several grams of sugar, impacting blood glucose levels. Diabetics should be cautious of these added sugars, as they can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar.

Diabetes Management

Balsamic is one of several types of vinegar thought to limit spikes in blood glucose levels. One study suggests that, if taken in moderation prior to eating, vinegar can help people with type 2 diabetes better manage their blood sugar.

Yes, a person with diabetes can eat mayonnaise. Mayonnaise has less than a single gram of carbohydrates per tablespoon. But with 10 grams of total fat (1.6 grams of that coming from saturated fat) it can be considered high fat. So you may want to limit the amount of mayonnaise you eat or find an alternative.

Is peanut butter good for people with diabetes? In moderation, eating regular peanut butter (not low-fat) should be fine for people with diabetes. Low-fat peanut butter should be reduced or avoided. This is because the fat content of low-fat peanut butter can be replaced with sugar and result in more carbohydrates.

Italian salad dressings and vinaigrettes have about 3 grams of sugar per serving size, honey mustard dressings contain around 7 grams, and Catalina dressings have about 8 grams of sugar. People also tend to use more than the recommended serving size of two tablespoons, which increases the sugar content of the salad.

Ranch Dressing

The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings. It is made from a number of ingredients such as buttermilk, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onion, chives, salt, and pepper.

What's the best salad dressing to eat if you're diabetic? ›

If you can stick to a small serving, branded dressings can be okay. Remember that vinegar-based and less creamy options will always be lower in calories and fat. Think about adding extra to flavour to salads with pomegranate seeds, herbs, citrus juice or zest and using seasonings like oregano, cumin and coriander.

Although all fresh fruits make a healthy choice, certain fruits, like berries, avocados, citrus fruits, apples, and pomegranates, may offer specific health benefits for people with type 2 diabetes, such as improving post-meal blood sugar levels and lowering blood pressure.

While more research is necessary, some evidence suggests ginger may help manage blood sugar levels. As such, people with diabetes can safely consume ginger as part of a healthy eating plan. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder.

French and Italian dressings, popular for their tangy and savory flavors, can potentially contribute to blood sugar spikes depending on their ingredients. Some commercial versions may contain added sugars, which can elevate the glycemic index of the meal.

Tuna salad is made by combining tuna with mayonnaise and other ingredients, such as celery and onions. A 5-ounce can of tuna provides around 20 grams of protein and no carbs, which makes it a great snack option if you have diabetes.