Mayonnaise, reduced-calorie or diet, cholesterol-free
Whole food · Fats and Oils
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a light, creamy condiment engineered to mimic the rich texture of traditional mayonnaise with a fraction of the calories and no cholesterol. It typically has a smooth, slightly glossy appearance and a tangy, mildly sweet flavor profile, though its texture can be thinner and less stable when heated. Nutritionally, it's a significant source of fat, but that fat is often from refined vegetable oils, and it provides a small amount of added sugar.
Calorie split: 1% protein · 8% carbs · 91% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for delivering the essential creamy, tangy backbone of classic salads and sandwiches without the full caloric load of traditional mayo. Its versatility makes it a go-to binder for everything from tuna salad to coleslaw, and it's a staple in many households for quick meal prep.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
It is still very high in fat, often from processed seed oils, and contains added sugars, which may not align with strict low-fat or low-sugar diets. Some formulations can have a noticeable 'off' taste or an emulsion that breaks easily with heat. To counteract this, use it as a flavor accent rather than a primary ingredient, and pair it with fiber-rich vegetables or lean protein to create a more balanced meal.
Key benefits
- Cholesterol-free
- Lower in calories than regular mayonnaise
- Provides fat for satiety and flavor
- Adds moisture and creaminess to dishes
- Convenient, shelf-stable condiment
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'cholesterol-free' label is technically accurate but can be misleading, as cholesterol is only found in animal products, and traditional mayonnaise is made from eggs.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 56.0 g |
| Energy | 333 kcal |
| Energy | 1393 kj |
| Protein | 0.90 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 33.3 g |
| Ash | 3.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 6.7 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.2 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 0.00 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.00 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 0.00 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 0.00 mg |
| Potassium, K | 67.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 733 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.00 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.00 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 1.6 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 7.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 6.4 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 24.7 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 4.6 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 3.1 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.3 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 19.5 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 17.4 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 2.1 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Salad dressing, mayonnaise, imitation, soybean without cholesterol — USDA does not publish this profile for Mayonnaise.
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.00 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.00 g |
| Lysine | 0.00 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.00 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.00 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.00 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
How does reduced-calorie mayonnaise differ from regular mayonnaise?
It typically replaces some or all of the oil with water, thickeners like modified food starch or gums, and sometimes adds sugar or artificial sweeteners. This lowers the fat and calorie count but changes the texture and flavor.
Is it safe to cook or bake with it?
It's not ideal for high-heat cooking like frying, as the emulsion can break and separate. It's best used in cold dishes or added at the end of cooking for creaminess, like in a potato salad dressing.
What does 'cholesterol-free' actually mean on the label?
It means the product contains less than 2 mg of cholesterol per serving. Since cholesterol is an animal-derived compound, any mayonnaise made without eggs or other animal products is naturally cholesterol-free.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.33 kcal/g · 1% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 4.2 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 10.94 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.