Berry Delicious

DIY Strawberry Vinaigrette…

This month, four out of every 10 Americans will make at least one New Year’s resolution. Losing weight, eating healthier and saving money are traditionally near the top of most lists. What if I told you that a simple Strawberry Vinaigrette recipe will help you achieve success with all three?

But before we get to the recipe, let’s talk about store-bought salad dressing. Have you ever looked at the ingredients list on the back label? Tons of sodium, sugar, saturated fat, trans fat, inferior olive oil, high-fructose corn syrup. Gross. Even brands labeled “healthy” or “organic” or “fat free” are questionable at best. One popular fat-free brand packs in 10 grams of sugar for two tablespoons. Another “healthy” brand contains 520 grams of sodium.

Gag me with a salad fork.

If you really want to lose weight, eat healthier and save money this year, learn to make your own salad dressing. It is so easy and tastes so good, you will wonder why you’ve been eating the store-bought variety all these years. Salad dressings are incredibly easy to prepare at home. Over time, you will save tons of money. The markup on mass-produced salad dressings is ridiculous.

This vinaigrette – featuring pureed strawberries, honey, and apple cider vinegar – is versatile and tasty. Fresh strawberries may be difficult to find in the dead of winter and they may be pricey because of overseas shipping. But thawed frozen strawberries will work just as well. This salad dressing is slightly sweet and tart from the strawberries and slightly acidic from the apple cider vinegar. It goes perfectly with just about any salad.

So next time you are in the grocery store, skip the salad dressing aisle. Your belly and your shopping budget will be just that much smaller. And you will have an easier time fulfilling your New Year’s resolutions.