Now that I’m older and more health-conscious, that powdered dressing mix is not going to fly anymore and the amount of mayo that goes into the standard stuff is not something I’m too jazzed about either. So I set out to whip up something on my own. Something that had all the creaminess and flavor that I loved, but with a healthier spin and with all natural ingredients so I could feel good about eating it.

Now, while there is only a bit of mayo in this recipe, I do not suggest using low fat or light mayonnaise as it tends to have a gelatinous texture that I don’t care for. Aside from the unappetizing consistency, most light mayonnaise contains modified food starch to thicken it, which is difficult for the body to digest and which often contains maltodextrin, a ingredient name used to hide the identity of MSG. Bad news all around! So, look carefully at the ingredients in your mayo and steer clear of that.

One last point I want to touch on is that this dressing was like the key to the veggie garden for me! I used to have to force myself to eat salads and I knew I wasn’t getting as many veggies in my diet as I should be. But now I mix up a batch of this dressing once a week and I’m having salads every day! Prep your salads ahead of time. I get the mixed greens from the store then prep red bell peppers and sliced cucumbers and toss in a few cherry tomatoes. Done! A salad for every meal. Easy! It’s great for dipping too. Bell pepper strips and cucumber coins in a baggie with a little container of ranch. Snack your heart out!