Think about that one food item you just can't live without. Things like chocolate, coffee or peanut butter may come to mind. Well for me, it's without a doubt ranch dressing.
It's something I'm not afraid to hide. Family and close friends would know I am even known as "the ranch girl" in multiple restaurant locations in my hometown and it's something I don't take lightly. To make the record straight: eating ranch dressing is a lifestyle. If you aren't a hardcore addict like me, you won't understand what I'm saying and that's okay. However, those of you who are as obsessed will understand how difficult it is to find a restaurant with even subpar ranch dressing. If you can relate, here are 10 signs you can tell you are a ranch addict.
1. You put it on everything.
Literally everything. I can't even explain how many times I've had people ask me, "Are you really putting ranch on that?" Yes, I am. Ranch dressing just makes everything taste better and honestly the more there is the better.
2. You have passionate conversations with other ranch addicts about it.
That moment when you find someone else that loves ranch as much as you is the best. When you start talking about your favorite kind and how it's the greatest condiment there is, you know a great friendship is about to form.
3. You have a 1-10 scale for rating different types of ranch dressing.
While I'm not sure if any of us will be able to find a perfect 10, all ranch addicts would like to say their favorite is. When I'm trying a new kind everyone always asks me how I rate the ranch from 1 to 10. I am yet to find a 10.
4. You go to a certain restaurant simply for the ranch.
I will go out to eat somewhere for the mere fact if I want a certain meal with a particular restaurant's ranch. In addition to this, the first thing I will ask when going to a new restaurant is if there's good ranch. If it does not live up to my ranch standards, I may or may not return to the location.
5. You're always annoying servers when asking for extra sides of ranch.
I seriously can't finish what's left of my meal until I get the next side of ranch dressing. I will continue looking and waving for the server until this is accomplished. I'm sorry to all the servers I have bothered in the past.
6. You can't eat certain foods without it.
I will not eat any type of pizza (except for deep dish from Chicago) unless there is ranch. This rule also applies chicken fingers/chicken pitas especially from Coney Island, french fries, mozzarella sticks, wings, etc. I will under ALL circumstances go out and buy ranch dressing if there is none to be found.
7. You know there are specific types of ranch dressing that correlate best with specific foods.
If you eat salads with thick ranch, you are doing it wrong.
8. Your biggest nightmare is when a restaurant changes their ranch.
I am specifically talking about a restaurant that previously had amazing ranch and it switches to a different kind that is worse. I have had multiple conversations with managers and owners about this problem. Don't be a restaurant that does this.
9. You've tried multiple times to replicate your favorite ranch.
Sometimes I feel like the character Plankton on the show SpongeBob SquarePants when he tries to steal the Krabby Patty ingredients. I am like that with ranch ingredients.
10. You simply just can't live without it.
While I am not endorsing that ranch dressing is the healthiest thing to add to your diet or lifestyle, it's just something I could never replace or live without. When I studied abroad in France last semester it was definitely difficult not being able to eat everything with ranch and was the first thing I wanted to eat upon my arrival.
For those who can relate to these 10 reasons, you know it's not just a condiment. Eating ranch is a lifestyle.
