Salad dressing, thousand island, commercial, regular
Whole food · Fats and Oils
Photo: Wikipedia
Thousand Island dressing is a creamy, pink-hued condiment with a sweet-tangy profile, combining mayonnaise, ketchup, and finely chopped pickles or relish. Its rich, velvety texture coats salads and sandwiches, delivering a calorie-dense punch of 379 kcal per 100g, primarily from fat (35g) and sugar (15g). It's a nostalgic classic, often associated with retro diners and iceberg lettuce salads.
Calorie split: 1% protein · 15% carbs · 83% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love Thousand Island for its comforting, sweet-savory balance that elevates simple dishes like salads and burgers. Its creamy, nostalgic flavor evokes classic American diner culture, making it a beloved staple for those seeking a familiar, indulgent taste.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its high sugar (15g) and fat content can contribute to blood-sugar spikes and excess calorie intake, making it unsuitable for low-carb or low-fat diets. To counteract, use it sparingly (1-2 tablespoons) and pair with fiber-rich vegetables, lean proteins, or whole-grain breads to slow digestion and balance the meal.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from its high carbohydrate and fat content.
- Contains small amounts of protein (1.09g) from its mayonnaise base.
- Offers a flavorful way to encourage vegetable consumption in salads.
- Its fat content can help absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) from greens.
- Serves as a versatile dip or sauce for various snacks and dishes.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The dressing's name likely references the Thousand Islands region between the US and Canada, but its exact origin is debated—some credit a New York socialite, others a fishing guide.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 46.5 g |
| Energy | 379 kcal |
| Energy | 1584 kj |
| Protein | 1.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 35.1 g |
| Ash | 2.7 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 14.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.80 g |
| Total Sugars | 15.2 g |
| Sucrose | 6.4 g |
| Glucose | 4.8 g |
| Fructose | 4.0 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 17.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.2 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 8.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 27.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 107 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 962 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.26 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.00 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.04 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 1.5 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 1.4 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.06 mg |
| Niacin | 0.42 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 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 | 4.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 14.0 ug |
| Retinol | 4.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 92.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 2.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 52.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 213 iu |
| Lycopene | 2597 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 29.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 4.0 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) | 69.1 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 5.1 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 | 3.5 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.3 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.12 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.11 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.9 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.15 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 18.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 15.9 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 2.4 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 | 26.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| 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 | 0.11 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.25 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
What is Thousand Island dressing made of?
It's typically made from mayonnaise, ketchup or tomato sauce, sweet pickle relish, and sometimes onions, vinegar, or sugar, giving it a creamy, sweet-tangy flavor.
Is Thousand Island dressing healthy?
It's high in calories (379 kcal per 100g) and fat (35g), with added sugar (15g), so it's best used in moderation. It can be part of a balanced diet if portioned carefully.
Can I use Thousand Island dressing as a dip?
Yes, it's commonly used as a dip for fries, onion rings, or vegetables, but its high fat and sugar content make it more of an occasional treat.
What's the difference between Thousand Island and Russian dressing?
Thousand Island is sweeter and creamier, often with relish, while Russian dressing is spicier and tangier, typically with horseradish and less sugar.
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 3.79 kcal/g · 1% calories from protein · 0.8 g fiber · 15.2 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: 8.99 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.