The One Thing I Thought I Couldn't Live Without...

I think that most of the people in the good ole US of A can fall into one of two categories:

1) Ranch
2) and everything else

Am I the only Ranch dressing lover? 

I don't think so. I might like it more than others, but I think most people enjoy it...  I love it.  

I love it on salad.  
I love it on veggies. 
I love ranch with chicken fingers, nuggets and wings. 
I love it in buffalo dip. 
I love ranch dressing mix on potatoes.
I love to dip fries in it.
I could go on...

Needless to say, when I started this healthy journey and I took a good look at the label on my ranch dressing bottle...I was sad.  There is nothing good about it. Nope. Not a thing. Of course there are brands that use real ingredients, but that's not what was in my hand.  I wanted to eat salads because salads are easy, versatile, and can be prepared ahead of time...but I was ruining my healthy meal by covering it with ranch.  I also had no intention of measuring out just 2 tablespoons of my favorite dip, so I think we can agree I had a problem. 

But I didn't want to cut ranch out of my life, or my fridge, so I temporarily replaced it with healthier options, but it wasn't the same.  I pressed on. Life goes on even when you aren't eating ranch.  

I started reaching some of my goals. I was losing weight, feeling better about myself, inside and out, but I was still clinging to that ranch. 

"I will just have it in moderation."
"Veggies taste good with only a little."

I was hanging on to Ranch as a crutch! Now, I can look back and see how ridiculous that was, but I just wasn't ready to let go of this comfort food.  But the day I decided it was time to part ways, I dropped it in the trash and I didn't look back!

I still have ranch dressing once in a while with a cheat meal, but I am no longer smothering my food with it. I tried lots of healthy dressings for my salads, because I still love salads (side note: salad is code for "I opened the fridge, found some healthy stuff and put it on top of some spinach leaves"), and eventually I found one that I love just as much as ranch. Balsamic vinegar.  Not the vinegarette, just balsamic vinegar.  Someone told me a long time ago it could be used as a salad dressing and I LAUGHED! Oh hindsight, you are so smart. It's simple, easy, flavorful and cheap. I am no longer a slave to ranch dressing!

This change didn't happen over night.  It took me months of trying alternatives and ignoring the ranch that called to me from the fridge. Eventually I found the "one" that I loved just as much, but doesn't compromise my health.  Healthy eating is a process. I had several vices that I just couldn't let go of. I clung to them.  But I still made other steps.  Even though I wasn't ready to let go ranch, I made other changes to my eating. When I was ready I tackled the tough one.  :)

Everyone has that "ranch" in their life. What's yours?