Real World Food Review: Best Foods Canola Mayonnaise

[Lost Dog]

Real World Food Reviews

Why "real world?" That's where we live. We can't always find the perfect foods. Don't wait for them, they won't come. We do the best we can...

I'm a purist in some areas, but as far as day to day eating goes, I don't sweat a tiny amount of preservatives, a pinch of HFCS, or artificial sweetener. If you do, keep that in mind as you read these little "reviews." And, do your research.

Also, while I tend to eat a certain way, my kids don't. And, they don't buy their own food. So, while I'm not a bread guy, you might, one day, find a bread review here. Assuming it passes the kid test.


Best Foods Canola Mayonnaise (aka Hellmann's Canola Mayonnaise)

I don't eat a lot of mayonnaise AND I confess that it's because of the calories. The smear on my sandwich isn't worth 90 calories or so. Even the healthier mayos (like Trader Joe's Canola or Olive Oil Mayos) are high in calories. So, I usually skip the mayo or go with some sort of light mayo, despite the ubiquitous soybean oil that I don't want to ingest. I don't eat all that much, so a little won't hurt all that bad, right?

My number one reason for even buying (or making) mayo, is for ranch dressing. My kids eat that stuff like it's going out of style, and I think the bottled Ranch is crap. Sure it tastes great, but it's full of soybean oil. So, I make my own Ranch with those little packets, mayo, and milk or buttermilk. My kids love it like the bottled stuff, and now I'll eat it, too.

Now, there's a better solution. Enter Best Foods and their Canola Mayo, which also happens to be 1/2 the fat and calories!

It tastes really good and has about 1/2 the calories of regular mayo AND it's far lighter on the Omega-6 fats. You know you need to eat fewer of them right?

It does have a few things that aren't "pure" to a mayo aficionado, but if you're one of them, you're not likely to be reading about Best Foods mayo.

INGREDIENTS: WATER, CANOLA OIL**, VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH**, WHOLE EGGS AND EGG YOLKS+, SUGAR, SALT, LEMON JUICE, XANTHAN GUM**, (SORBIC ACID**, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA) USED TO PROTECT QUALITY, DL ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), PHOSPHORIC ACID**, NATURAL FLAVORS (SOY), BETA CAROTENE** (FOR COLOR), CITRIC ACID**, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA, PHYTONADIONE (VITAMIN K).
** INGREDIENT NOT IN MAYONNAISE
+ ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF CHOLESTEROL

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Tbsp (13g)
Calories: 45
Total Fat: 4.5g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5
Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5
Sodium: 90g
Total Carbs: <1g
Protein: 0g

One thing that I like about this stuff is the labeling. It doesn't say "light" on the label. At least not predominantly. That means my kids (who can read) will eat it. It doesn't say it's healthy, either. So, regular people might actually buy this stuff accidentally. Stealth health.

It does say Cholesterol Free in big ol' lettering, but that's cool. People have been ignoring that "benefit" for years and eating up, anyway.

BTW, if you find another mayo that's as good or better, feel free to post it up. More info is better.

[BamaDave]

I've used that as well and thought it was good. Right now I have some Smart Balance Mayo, and I really don't like it. I hate sweet mayonnaise, and, as I recall, the Hellmann's Canola Mayo isn't sweet.

[LisaS]

Best Foods = Hellman's in the East