Is mayonnaise unhealthy, or is it secretly not too bad?

1. A plate of fries is not complete without a large dollop of mayonnaise. And with many other dishes, we really cannot really do without this sauce. Yet people often opt for leaner alternatives such as halvanaise, or they no longer eat mayonnaise at all. But how useful is that? Is mayonnaise unhealthy enough to banish it from your diet altogether, or is it actually not that bad?

1. In today's blog we list the pros and cons of mayonnaise. Of course we also look at various alternatives, so that you can make the optimal choice!

What's in mayonnaise?

1. All kinds of seasonings and other extras can be added to mayonnaise. However, the basics are very simple! In principle, mayonnaise consists of (vegetable) oil, egg yolks, mustard, vinegar and some pepper and salt. A product may only be called mayonnaise if it contains at least 5% egg and if it consists of at least 70% fat.

1. Despite these guidelines, the different brands of mayonnaise in the supermarket often differ considerably from each other! That's because they all use different proportions of ingredients. Some products also add more or less sugar or salt.

Is fat unhealthy?

1. That high fat content is the main reason that mayonnaise is often considered unhealthy. For years we have thought that fat was the main cause of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Nowadays, however, more and more research is returning to this. Fats - provided they are healthy fats - are essential for your body to function properly.

1. The fats in mayonnaise, as mentioned, come mainly from egg yolks and vegetable oil. This means that the sauce mainly contains healthy fats. Egg yolk is also rich in various vitamins and minerals. The only drawback is that even healthy oil is of course still rich in calories.

Are calories unhealthy?

1. But is it necessarily bad to eat high-calorie products? Fortunately not - as long as you keep an eye on the portion size. Most importantly, your calorie consumption over a whole day is roughly equal to your calorie consumption, or slightly lower if you want to lose weight. But small amounts of energy-rich products are fine, especially if they are not unhealthy!

1. Of course it is not advisable to spoon half a jar of mayonnaise onto your plate every day. It will then be very difficult to maintain your calorie intake as a whole. An occasional spoon with the baked potatoes shouldn't be a problem, however, as long as you coordinate it with the rest of your day!

Is mayonnaise unhealthy?

1. All things considered, is mayonnaise unhealthy? It depends a bit on which brand you choose. Good quality mayonnaise, with little added crazy, is fine from time to time, especially if you don't make the portions too big.

1. Always read the label, because there are varieties that have a lot of extra sugar, salt and other substances added. Of course you would rather avoid them. There are also many flavored mayonnaises, such as truffle mayonnaise. There you will again have to find out which flavorings were used exactly. But you don't have to worry about moderate portions either.

Halvanaise and yogonnaise

1. When people are too bothered by the calories in mayonnaise, they often opt for light alternatives. Half-fat half fat and yogurt with added yogurt are the main types. Although you do indeed consume less energy with this, these options are not always recommended!

1. Because halvanaise and yogonaise naturally have less fat, they also taste less full. To compensate for this, even more sugar and salt are put in. In the end you might be a little slimmer, but certainly not healthier! If you really want to save calories, mix your mayonnaise with a spoonful of yogurt yourself.

Mayonnaise or ketchup?

1. Another common way to cut calories is to eat ketchup instead of mayonnaise. Red sauces are generally less energy dense because they are not made on a fat base. But is it true that ketchup is healthier?

1. In short, with ketchup, it all depends on which one you choose. Unfortunately, most varieties contain almost a quarter of sugar! If you call mayonnaise unhealthy, you can hardly consider ketchup as a good alternative. So for both sauces the following applies: use them in moderation, and make sure they fit well into the rest of your diet.

Make your own mayonnaise

1. Do you really want to know exactly what's in your mayonnaise? Then you can of course make your own mayonnaise! Fortunately, it is not very difficult, although it may take a few tries to really get the ideal thickness.

1. Place 2 egg yolks (from fresh eggs) and 1 tsp mustard in a food processor. Very slowly pour in olive oil until it has the desired consistency. You will need about 200 ml. When the mixture has the right substance, add the juice of half a lemon and salt and pepper. You can keep the mayonnaise refrigerated for about three days!