Low Calorie Mayo

Mayonnaise can be an exciting partner to even the dullest of dishes and is flexible enough to accompany a wide range of foods. We have sampled 6 of the healthy option mayo brands to see which are kind to your taste buds as well as your calorie quota.

Table 1: Low Calorie Mayonnaise Compared

Product	Tesco Reduced Calorie Mayonnaise	Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise	Waitrose Reduced Calorie Mayonnaise
Ranking	1	2	3
Summary	Looking and tasting “like real mayonnaise” this had it all. Excellent texture and flavour. More calorie and fat content than some of the others tried here but against the full fat alternatives there’s no contest.	Well liked by the panel. "Just a normal mayonnaise. No gimmicks or weird and wonderful combinations". And, importantly, less of the calories. Some may find the texture too thick or a "bit like a dessert".	A valiant effort from Waitrose. Not too oily like some of the others and a daring, peppery taste which works very well. Definitely worth a try.
Serving Size	15g	15g	15g
Calories (kcal)	49	45	43
Fat (g)	4.7	4.5	4.1

Table 2: More Low Calorie Mayo Compared

Product	Marks & Spencer Reduced Fat Mayonnaise	Weight Watchers Mayonnaise Dressing	Sainsburys BGTY French Mayonnaise
Ranking	4	5	6
Summary	An authentic mayo appearance, and nothing artificial about the taste either; smooth and creamy. A good all-rounder and light on calories.	Also managing the “proper” mayonnaise look. This was creamy and mild although nothing remarkable. Perhaps needed something extra to make it stand out from the rest. Among the lowest for calories and fat.	A “banana custard” appearance was unappetising for some, and the opinions did not rise much after the tasting. Its poor texture and mustard aftertaste would not suit everyone. For fans only.
Serving Size	15g	15g	15g
Calories (kcal)	41	42	55
Fat (g)	3.6	4.2	5.6

Table 3: More Reduced Calorie Mayonnaise

Product	Hellmann’s Extra Light Mayonnaise
Ranking	7
Summary	With it’s eerie, blancmange-like appearance and complete lack of flavour our panel were shocked to discover this had come from the big name player: Hellmann’s. Some were left wondering “What’s the point?”
Serving Size	15g
Calories (kcal)	15
Fat (g)	1.0

Conclusion

Hellmann’s probably bit off more than they could chew in trying to reduce the calories for their product. Perhaps they should quit while they're ahead with the excellent Hellmann's Light.

Meanwhile, Tesco also showed us that mayonnaise with reasonable calorie content can not only have some flavour but can even rival the standard versions. With commendable entries from both Waitrose and Marks & Spencer these are all well worth a dip or a dollop.