To keep a healthy salad from becoming a caloric monster, forget some of the dramatic and impractical diet advice you've read elsewhere — especially that recommendation to dip the tines of your fork into the dressing before spearing a leaf. Here's a simple solution to use less dressing:

Always toss the dressing with the greens. Don't serve naked salad under a blanket of dressing. Toss it with a drizzle (1 tablespoon for every cup of greens) and add more if you need to.

For the merest hint of dressing on your greens, pour it on the inside of the bowl then add the greens and toss.