tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post5568784758949514871..comments2022-11-03T16:06:28.601-07:00Comments on Please, DON'T pass the salt!: Low Sodium Supermarket Dining: The Produce Aisle, Part 1shambohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322116493875692211noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-68904733244269876752010-02-07T14:56:16.614-08:002010-02-07T14:56:16.614-08:00Derra, I understand how your feel. But I want to e...Derra, I understand how your feel. But I want to encourage you. Believe it or not, you will find many dishes that taste wonderful without any added salt. You'll be able to impress your family and friends with your tasty low salt cuisine. As an example, just last evening, I served ribs for dinner. My husband really enjoyed them, but the interesting thing was the comments from our guest. He asked me a couple of times if I had prepared the ribs without salt. He couldn't believe it and commented several times about how good they were. I've gotten similar reactions to other dishes I've made from friends and family with no salt restrictions.<br /><br />All that to say that you still will be able to prepare tasty food. Some dishes don't need the addition of lots of salt in order to taste good. For example, the ribs I made last night have a great rub & great sauce. All the spices flavor the meat so wonderfully that salt isn't needed at all. Curries are a good example too. Other dishes benefit from lemon juice or vinegar to give them a punch and the salt isn't even missed.<br /><br />But there are certain foods that do taste bland without salt and those are the most troublesome. So, just as in regular cooking, not all your low sodium dishes will be hits. But you'll eventually develop a sense for what will work well without salt and what won't. I think the key is to focus on those dishes that successfully make the low sodium transition. And lay aside those that simply don't do well without salt. That's one of the reasons I don't make mashed potatoes very often anymore. The boiled & mashed potatoes just don't have much flavor without the addition of either a lot of salt or a lot of butter, sour cream, cheese, etc. to override the blandness. But crispy potatoes roasted in olive oil tossed with herbs & crushed garlic... Now those taste good and don't need any salt.shambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18322116493875692211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-45439773999347402002010-02-07T08:31:13.811-08:002010-02-07T08:31:13.811-08:00Thank you for your informative blog. I was recentl...Thank you for your informative blog. I was recently diagnosed with heart failure and hypertension. I am really struggling with finding recipes that my family enjoys also. <br /><br />I LOVE to cook. I am a little sad because I just feel like I cannot make things that will taste as good anymore. No more rave reviews on my cooking.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10989885781886753874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-77914230642765569962009-08-24T16:05:37.542-07:002009-08-24T16:05:37.542-07:00Dora, thanks for your encouraging comments. I cert...Dora, thanks for your encouraging comments. I certainly appreciate them. I'm with you in hoping that eventually major grocers and food producers start offering more low salt alternatives. I read an article last week that Campbell's Soups has set a goal of eventually reducing all their products to under 500 mg. sodium per serving. That's still a bit high for people who must restrict their salt intake for medical reasons, but it's a whole lot better than what's available now. And it's a quantity you could work with -- adding extra vegetables, pasta, or rice, etc. -- to lower the overall sodium content.shambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18322116493875692211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-9568082816388835522009-08-24T12:01:50.793-07:002009-08-24T12:01:50.793-07:00My husband and I are both working on a low-sodium ...My husband and I are both working on a low-sodium "lifestyle" to rid ourselves of medication and improve our health. Luckily, I love to cook and am willing to almost endlessly tinker with recipes to create healthy and tasty meals. I want to thank you for the tremendous information you have shared on your blog. What you have done is so impressive and informational! It is so frustrating to have to order much of our seasonings and other items online from multiple sources -- but hopefully over time, more stores and eateries in our area (Louisiana) will be responsive to this need. Thanks a million and PLEASE keep on sharing such beneficial information!Luv2cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12273668062785525468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-71378494130514457112009-08-15T14:46:00.614-07:002009-08-15T14:46:00.614-07:00Again, thank you so much for all your valuable inf...Again, thank you so much for all your valuable information.Elenkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377371859667172825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-32551486500881319522009-08-10T10:22:42.948-07:002009-08-10T10:22:42.948-07:00Thank you, Karen, for your kind words. You did the...Thank you, Karen, for your kind words. You did the same thing I did. Once I realized we'd be eating low sodium forever, I immediately ordered a bunch of spice blends from Penzey's too. In fact, I just sent in another order last week. <br /><br />Regarding ordering out, we've had really good luck at steak houses. You usually can get the steak prepared without any additional salt. Finer steak restaurants don't chemically tenderize their meat, so if it's cooked without salt, you get a good low sodium main dish. You also can usually get a baked potato and just put the sour cream on it rather than the salted butter. Also most restaurants will offer cruets of vinegar & oil for salads.<br /><br />We've also had good luck ordering hamburgers & fries. You can get the burger cooked without added salt and even the fries without salt too. Skip the condiments and pile on the lettuce, tomato, & onion and you still have a tasty burger.shambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18322116493875692211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-42466928329795161962009-08-10T09:21:25.694-07:002009-08-10T09:21:25.694-07:00I've just found your site and want to thank yo...I've just found your site and want to thank you for all the information. I've accepted the order to a low sodium diet as a challenge - and indeed it is. I've found Penzey's Spices store to get me started. I'm glad I am a good cook and like to cook. That does make this easier. Dining out is the biggest challenge andt it was something we really liked to do. Now I think it will be easier and tastier to dine at home. I'll appreciate any dining out tips (especially restaurant sites that actually post full nutrition) that you might have. Thanks again. I've put this site on my favorites bar!Karenhttp://kbarritt.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-7391868436263769362009-08-08T09:04:59.210-07:002009-08-08T09:04:59.210-07:00You're right, Matt, about reading labels. Neve...You're right, Matt, about reading labels. Never assume anything. <br /><br />I'm able to find a couple of lower sodium brands at local supermarkets, but I usually buy the Trader Joe's jarred dried tomatoes. Those have 10 mg. sodium for about 13 julienne slices. Salt is not listed as an ingredient. I'll use those if I want just a spark of flavor. Otherwise, if I want to add a lot more, I'll do the same as you -- buy the dried and rehydrate them myself.shambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18322116493875692211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255922734437079511.post-71100744485630348522009-08-08T04:35:11.971-07:002009-08-08T04:35:11.971-07:00Be careful on the jarred sun-dried tomatoes; sever...Be careful on the jarred sun-dried tomatoes; several of them are packed in a salty oil. The ones around here have as much as 330mg of sodium per serving (1/4 cup or so, if I recall correctly). I get the dry-pack ones and rehydrate them myself.Matthttp://friends.macjournals.com/mattd/noreply@blogger.com