The creamy texture and tangy flavor of mayonnaise is a staple in so many classic recipes — think potato salad, egg salad, pasta salad, sandwiches, burgers, and dips.

But it’s not exactly the pinnacle of healthy condiments, so you may be wondering if a worthy mayo substitute exists.

“Classic mayonnaise is made from emulsifying egg yolk with oil, mustard, a little lemon juice or vinegar, and salt,” says Fay Israsena, C.N.M. A.N.P., Beachbody Nutrition Specialist. “Store-bought versions often have various additives and preservatives added on to that list.”

Even if you try to make homemade mayo with healthier ingredients, Israsena adds, “The main ingredient is overwhelmingly oil, so 99 percent of the calories come from fat.”

That means mayonnaise is also calorie-dense.

Just one tablespoon of the creamy condiment packs 10 grams of fat and 94 calories — and we all know how hard it is to stick to one serving.

It’s fine to consume small amounts of mayo in a balanced diet, but “replacing mayo with a healthier, low-fat option saves us from putting our willpower to the test,” Israsena says.

Luckily, mayo substitutes can also be seriously flavorful, as these eight tasty alternatives prove.

1. Reduced-Fat Greek Yogurt

Reduced-fat Greek yogurt has the thickness needed to hold your ingredients together, without the fat content of oil-based mayo.

A cup of reduced-fat plain Greek yogurt contains 4.7 grams of fat — less than half the fat content in a single tablespoon of mayo.

Israsena suggests mixing Greek yogurt with a bit of mustard and lemon juice to add tang to a potato or pasta salad.

“It’s a good source of protein and probiotics as well, so that’s a bonus,” she adds.

2. Reduced-Fat Sour Cream

When you need a thicker mayo substitute than Greek yogurt, sour cream can do the trick.

A tablespoon of sour cream contains 2.9 grams of fat and just under 30 calories. Choose reduced-fat sour cream, and that number dips to 1.6 grams of fat and 20 calories per tablespoon.

Use sour cream in place of mayo in dips or cold salads, or as a spread on sandwiches and burgers — just be mindful of how much you’re using.

3. Avocado

While it’s not a condiment, sliced (or mashed) avocado lends creaminess, which makes it a surprisingly good mayo substitute for burgers, wraps, sandwiches, and even egg salad.

Avocados are a good source of healthy fats — especially monounsaturated fatty acids — along with fiber to help keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Just keep in mind a whole avocado contains 227 calories, so it’s wise to watch your portions!

You can also whip up some guacamole for a flavor-packed topper.

For a spicier, lower-calorie guac, substitute canned green chiles for some of the avocado.

4. Tofu-Based Mayo

Create a plant-based mayo substitute by blending a block of firm non-GMO tofu with mustard, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar, salt, and a little olive or flaxseed oil, Israsena suggests.

Thanks to tofu’s unique texture, you don’t need to use as much oil as you normally would when making homemade mayo.

5. Oil and Vinegar

Oil and vinegar won’t work as a mayo substitute in every recipe, but it’s the perfect combo for creating a lighter alternative to mayo-based potato salad.

Store-bought dressings and condiments — including mayo — often use sunflower or safflower (canola) oil, explains Dana Ellis Hunnes, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., senior dietitian at UCLA Medical Center and author of the upcoming book Recipe For Survival.

But when you prepare your own vinaigrette, you can choose one of the healthiest cooking oils, like avocado oil or EVOO.

(Even the healthiest types of oil are still calorie-dense, however, so watch your portions.)

Vinegar adds tang and flavor to the mix with minimal calories.

Balsamic vinegar has 14 calories per tablespoon, and apple cider vinegar has just 3 calories per tablespoon.

6. Mustard

Replacing mayo is a two-part equation: flavor and texture.

Whether you opt for creamy dijon or whole-grain mustard, this condition has both categories covered.

Hunnes recommends using these lower-calorie condiments as a mayo substitute on sandwiches and burgers.

Dijon mustard can also stand in for mayo in a pasta salad or German-style potato salad.

7. Hummus

Vegetarians and vegans can attest to this being a seriously delicious sandwich topper.

Just like mayo, hummus brings creaminess to the equation.

Homemade hummus is your best bet, since you can control the type and amount of oil and tahini used.

(Store-bought versions may use canola oil — and a lot of it.)

A tablespoon of homemade hummus typically contains just 27 calories and 1.3 grams of fat.

8. Store-Bought Vegan Mayo

“Plant-based versions of almost everything exist now,” Hunnes says.

So if you want your mayo substitute to mimic the taste and texture of the real deal as closely as possible, a ready-made vegan mayo may be a good option.

The key here is to read the ingredient list closely.

“There are some pretty clean brands out there using interesting ingredients like avocado (for smoothness) and aquafaba (as a binder instead of eggs),” Israsena says.

Just steer clear of versions that contain preservatives and additives, she adds.

Pro tip: If you’re still craving true mayo flavor, blend one tablespoon of regular mayonnaise with half a cup of a mayo substitute. The mayo flavor will come through, while the healthier ingredient makes up most of the volume.

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Whether you’re adding more meatless meals to your weekly rotation or considering going vegan or vegetarian, plant-based eating is super popular right now.

But what are your options when it comes to meat substitutes?

There are many great vegetarian protein sources out there these days that giving up meat (for a meal or a lifetime) is easier than it used to be.

Online and at grocery stores, your options for buying meat substitutes are more plentiful than ever before, from next-gen fake beef to staples people have been eating since ancient times, like eggs and beans.

(Fun fact: According to archaeologists, Roman gladiators were likely vegetarian.)

Here are five types of popular meat substitutes you can weave into your weekly meal plans.

While the brand names may vary at your local supermarket, most of the products you’ll spy in the meat substitutes section (usually near the produce section) will fall into one of these categories.

1. Legumes and Beans

“I highly recommend legumes as the best meat alternative,” says Jill Nussinow, M.S., R.D.N. That’s because they’re the least processed option, she says.

You can swap black beans for ground taco meat, lentils for sausage in soup, or white beans for chicken in your favorite casserole.

You can also easily make your own vegetable-based burgers from lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, soybeans, and more.

2. Tofu, Tempeh, and Other Soy Products

Soy-based foods are a common base for meat alternatives, since they are a complete protein.

Similar to the way you make cheese, tofu starts with soy milk turned into curds and comes in varying textures, from soft to firm.

Think of it like a clean slate, ready to take on the flavor of any spice, sauce, or seasoning.

Tempeh is made from fermented, cooked soybeans and has a firm texture and nutty flavor.

One great way to use tempeh is as a swap for ground meat in chili. It’s also wonderful marinated, sliced, and baked, in place of deli meats and as a bacon substitute.

3. Seitan and “Wheat Meat”

Seitan is a meat substitute made from wheat gluten, which provides the protein in wheat.

It has a similar texture and color to cooked meat and is a popular base for meat substitutes for bacon and deli slices.

Some of these products might contain more salt or oils than you want to consume, so read the labels.

“When you are looking at faux meat products, look for those that are lower in saturated fat and sodium,” says Sharon Palmer, M.S.F.S., R.D.N.

Upton’s Naturals is a cult fave for hot dogs, bacon, and sausages made with seitan, but check your local market for a variety of brands.

No Evil Foods is another brand of “wheat meat” that’s gaining fans for their tasty “chicken” and “chorizo” meat substitutes.

4. Pea and Soy Protein “Meat Substitutes”

“There are new vegan meat substitutes made from pea protein, soy isolate, and combination proteins,” says Nussinow.

Some are also made from soy protein concentrates.

These products replace everything from gyro strips to chicken nuggets in a convincing way.

While they are more processed than tofu, tempeh, or seitan (and can be high in sodium), they are tasty ways to satisfy a craving without meat on occasion.

“For some meat-eaters, the more processed meat substitutes help them include more plant-based foods,” says Nussinow. “My husband, a former meat-eater, likes Boca burgers.”

5. High-tech “Burgers” and “Ground Meat”

Both Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat sell “raw” plant-based meats that look like uncooked ground beef.

Beyond Meat also sells sausages; they taste so much like the “real deal” though that opinions tend to be mixed.

“Some people like the new modern faux meats that ‘bleed’ and look and taste like real meat,” says Palmer. “Others don’t like the taste of meat and prefer beans, peas, and grains.”

The Impossible Burger is touted as tasting just like real beef, due to heme — which is what makes meat taste like meat — extracted from soybeans.

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