Stupid Hidden Valley Ranch!

[Amy35]

Here I thought I was doing so good, 5 days without any sugars and I just finally took a look at my Hidden Valley Ranch bottle and see that there's sugar listed! I would never use ranch dressing before, but for some reason I was under the impression that ranch was one of the "allowed" dressing on Atkins and I figured I'd just bite the bullet and somehow "learn" to like it. Well this afternoon while chomping on my salad I realised I am suddenly LOVING ranch dressing, it tastes wonderful to me...I knew something had to be terribly wrong! And that's when I finally took a look, sugar listed as one of the main ingredients

I was doing so good, or so I thought Is there some other type of ranch we should be using? And what about blue cheese dressing on induction? I really like blue cheese, I just don't have any in the house right now.

[kylie]

Really? I don't use that brand, but I am surprised that sugar is a MAIN ingredient. What is the carb count and serving size? Is it REGULAR?

Blue cheese is OK but don't forget to make sure the carb count is 2g or less per tablespoon and count them in your totals.

[Tracie515]

Ditto

Originally Posted by kylie

Really? I don't use that brand, but I am surprised that sugar is a MAIN ingredient. What is the carb count and serving size? Is it REGULAR?

Blue cheese is OK but don't forget to make sure the carb count is 2g or less per tablespoon and count them in your totals.

[Amy35]

Yes, it's the regular with 2g. of carbs per a 2 tbs. serving. This is how the ingredients are listed: soybean oil, water, egg yolk, sugar....so it's not the MAIN ingredient but it's listed as the fourth with about 20 other ingredients listed after so I was considering it one of the main ingredients. I was under the impression that we shouldn't have anything that had sugar listed anywhere in the ingredients list.

[pgmr_64804]

Ken's Steakhouse has a ranch that is only 1 carb per serving, and Ken's also has a Cesaer that is 0 carb grams per serving.

I use those on a limited basis but usually no more than 1 serving a day.

Right now I have tmj problems and have not had any salads so I have not used any dressing.

[kylie]

Yes, it's the regular with 2g. of carbs per a 2 tbs. serving. This is how the ingredients are listed: soybean oil, water, egg yolk, sugar....so it's not the MAIN ingredient but it's listed as the fourth with about 20 other ingredients listed after so I was considering it one of the main ingredients. I was under the impression that we shouldn't have anything that had sugar listed anywhere in the ingredients list.

You are totally right to read the ingredients list to check for sugar and ideally, you would like to find one without sugar - but you might have trouble finding one. With a carb count of only 2 g per 2 TBSP (which follows DANDR guidelines), the actual amount of sugar can't be very much...those other ingredients that come after the sugar (which generally the ingredients are listed from most to least or close) are probably all of the spices, flavors and unpronouncables/preservatives. This is my educated guess. I wouldn't stress out about having used it or even continuing to use it if you like it...but you can certainly try to find an alternative by studying the labels and or making your own dressing. I just found a single serving packet of Hidden Valley Original Ranch in my fridge - the ingredients on it are slightly different that yours - on this one the sugar is listed as parenthetical detail of the ingredient "Ranch seasoning and spices"
Kudos to you for so diligently reading your labels!

[Miss Phode]

Lots of folks who like ranch insist that the amount of sugar is minute (sp??), and it won't hurt you. Dr. A said to use dressings with 2 carbs or less per serving, so I think you're OK.

[Tracie515]

I eat it all the time on my salads or a dip with my veggies and i have lost 40 lbs in 3 1/2 months.

[theredhead]

It's a tiny amount of sugar and the dressing fits the guidelines.

I recently started making my own when I found out how easy it is. I don't add any kind of sugar and it tastes great! Here's the recipe I use, although I make smaller quanities. It's a Buttermilk Ranch, but if you want the regular, use sour cream instead of buttermilk:

Sosumi’s Homemade Ranch Dressing
1 qt buttermilk
1 qt Hellman’s mayo (can use light to lessen fat calories)
2 tsp Accent
2 tsp onion flakes
2 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp pepper
2 tsp parsley flakes

Mix well; keeps for 3 months in refrigerator.

This comes out a bit thin, but you can add a little xanthan gum if you like. Actually, I like it thin because I can spread it all over my salad much better!

[attek]

I just wanted to add that Ranch dressings (and probably any dressing) can vary a lot in carbs, so you really must read the labels. For example, I have a Ranch dressing in my pantry that is 7g carbs - definitely a no-no. I've also noticed that some fast food places serve Ranch dressing with 7-10 g carbs per packet. I don't eat out much but I would take my own salad dressing along if I did.