Golden Tomato-Date Dressing

Hello, Golden Tomato Date Dressing! I love this dressing because it’s just made with tomatoes and dates…nothing else! Because of that you can enjoy more of it than you normally would a regular salad dressing since it’s naturally low fat, low calorie, and no added junk! 

I am a true believer that variety is the spice of life. I find that if you have trouble breaking away from your strict, methodical routine, chances are…you’re going to lose your mind! Let me add…I speak from experience.

It may seem slightly contradictory that I am sitting here preaching to you all the importance of variety in your lives when I am the queen of routine. I would go as far as saying I am a routine junky. I am so attached to my routine that I have to consciously make the effort to do something different once in a while. Whether that be walking my dog a different route, wearing something I normally don’t wear, or most importantly, cooking something I normally won’t cook for myself.

That’s the big one right there. I am that person who is perfectly content eating the same thing every day, even more so since I’ve been vegan and haven’t taken the time to get creative with it. But I guess it’s a stretch to say I am perfectly content, because like I said before, that is a recipe for disaster…or more specifically a recipe for really intense, irrational cravings.

So here I am, on my way home from my internship with a growling belly ready to dig in to some dinner. Except, instead of being excited I have that blah feeling…you know, the one you get when you have to do something for the billionth time, like make the same old salad with the same old dressing in the same old bowl. Just, blah.

What I really wanted was an unlimited plate of French Fries, but I knew that was just my hunger talking. But then I realized, not only was it my hunger, it was my mind’s way (and my taste bud’s if we’re being honest) of saying “HELLO, feed this body something different for once, please!!” My body’s way of reaching out to me was by making me feel that unenthused feeling, causing me to crave things that would not nourish or fuel me in the way that I needed.

So I thought, enough is enough. On the rest of my drive home I brainstormed ways I could spice up my typical boring salad with a new dressing. What I came up with was definitely interesting, but turned out to be amazing! Be sure to keep an open mind…

Introducing my Golden Tomato Date Dressing! I love this dressing because it’s just made with tomatoes and dates…nothing else! Because of that you can enjoy more of it than you normally would a regular salad dressing since it’s naturally low fat, low calorie, and no added junk! I also sometimes blend a big handful of cilantro in the dressing to give it a refreshing zing. So delicious I can’t get enough!

So I owe it all to this Golden Tomato Date Dressing for inspiring me to branch out from my routine and try new things. My hunger for variety just keeps growing! How do you add variety to your life?

Golden Tomato Date Dressing

Makes about 2 cups/8 servings

Ingredients

• 3 medium tomatoes, sliced into large pieces
• 6 dates

Directions

1. Take the tomatoes and dates (and cilantro if you wish!) and blend in a blender, Nutribullet, or food processor until it forms a dressing-like consistency. Add more of either ingredient if necessary.
2. Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate.

Tara Collingwood

MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N

Tara is a nationally recognized expert and spokesperson on nutrition, fitness, and health promotion and is quoted in a variety of media including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and websites.