Summary
Dr. Berg presents a homemade Italian dressing recipe as a healthier alternative to store-bought dressings, including organic ones. He highlights that commercial dressings commonly contain problematic ingredients and encourages making dressings at home. The recipe features fresh vegetables for a chunky texture and is served on arugula.
Key Takeaways
- Commercial dressings should be avoided — even organic store-bought dressings often contain unhealthy ingredients
- Store-bought dressings commonly contain soy (often GMO), corn oil, MSG, sugar, and artificial chemicals
- Making dressing at home is described as simple and a better option for controlling ingredients
- This Italian dressing recipe includes fresh red bell pepper and chopped onions for a chunky texture
- The dressing is meant to be shaken before use to mix the chunky ingredients
- Dr. Berg recommends serving this dressing on arugula, which he considers his favorite salad green
Details
The Problem with Store-Bought Dressings
Dr. Berg points out that commercial salad dressings — even those marketed as organic — frequently contain:
- GMO soy and soy-based oils
- Corn oil
- MSG (monosodium glutamate)
- Added sugar
- Various artificial chemicals
The Homemade Italian Dressing
The recipe is described as a classic Italian-style dressing with a distinguishing feature: chunky fresh vegetable pieces mixed in, rather than a purely liquid dressing. Key ingredients mentioned include:
- Fresh red bell pepper (not spicy, adds texture and color)
- Chopped onions
- The dressing is shaken to distribute the chunky ingredients before serving
Serving Suggestion
Dr. Berg specifically recommends this dressing on arugula, noting it is his preferred lettuce and that he consumes large amounts of salad regularly, requiring generous amounts of dressing.