Weeknight Easy

March 6, 2015

Salt-Free Salt and Lamb Jam

This month we are going to cover yet another seemingly impossible sodium challenge: salt. Yup. Salt. Because when it comes to  a truly low-so good diet, if you simply take out the salt, you will still find yourself longing for it. And that’s why you cannot just remove it from your life and diet and favorite roast beef recipe; you have to replace it. I’m not the only one saying so. The recommendations for the new 2015 Dietary Guidelines (coming later this year) actually highlight this very essential fact as well — i.e. putting emphasis on replacement versus removal — and make a few […]

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February 20, 2015

Bacon Spice and Coconut Bacon Bits

We are midway through our month of low-so sausage and low-so bacon, and it’s time to shift our focus from the big bites to the itty bits. I’m talking bacon bits. That crunchy topping that gets sprinkled on top of iceberg lettuce salads, crumbled on top of pastas or deviled eggs, and baked right into the crispy crust of a casserole. Even though they are teeny teeny tiny, these little bits can sure add a lot of sodium to a simple, healthy meal. Like over 200mg per 7g serving (or a few teaspoons). And that’s because bacon bits are (surprise!) mostly made from cured, salted bacon. But you […]

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January 30, 2015

Low-So Boule, Challah, Challah Buns

I love my daughter’s preschool. But there are two stand-out reasons why it has changed my life: 1) they are helping me potty train a toddler and 2) they make fresh challah every Thursday. Not at the same time. As we’ve been discussing all month, bread can seem like a big low-sodium challenge. The store-bought loaves can equal upwards of 200mg per slice. And because we tend to eat a lot of bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, those numbers can really add up. But with many low-sodium products on the shelves and many more creative low-sodium swaps at your fingertips, you now know how […]

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October 8, 2014

Jump for PlateJoy

Guys. What if I told you that with a click of a button, some of your favorite Sodium Girl recipes (and everything you need to make them) could magically land on your doorstep? Well I hope that your answer was an enthusiastic “HUZZAH,” because starting today, you can do exactly that. Thanks to PlateJoy! HUZZAH! For some of us, grocery shopping is our favorite part of the day (guilty as charged). But for many others, the hardest part of healthy eating and low-sodium cooking is the time it takes to get to the store, buy the right ingredients, and then get back home, where […]

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September 16, 2014

Whole Foods Market Hack Challenge

Yesterday I expressed my love (obsession) for Whole Foods Market. And today, I am going to show you — in great detail and delicious food — exactly why their store rocks my low-sodium world. As a part of the Whole Foods Market Hacks challenge, I was tasked with the task of creating TWO MEALS A DAY to feed the THREE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY all for $125. Or in other words roughly 42 PLATES OF FOOD FOR $3 DOLLARS EACH. Got that? And let’s be honest, while I keep to a strict low-sodium diet, I do not keep to small (slash: normal) portion sizes. Sometimes I eat steak the size of my […]

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September 12, 2014

Broccoli Crusted Fish Sticks

I’ve been on a major broccoli kick lately. And my six year old self is in total shock. But my thirty-something self is totally blown away by broccoli’s chameleon like capabilities. Not to mention its wonderfully herby flavor that it lends to favorite dishes. Like casseroles. Tater tots. Spreads. And now, fish sticks. I just can’t seem to get enough of it. Broccoli, you had me at broccoli. So with a bag of low-sodium (but stale) blue corn tortillas on hand, I found myself with the urge to bread and bake some proteins. And with a quick pulse in the food processor and a cup of […]

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September 5, 2014

Low-So Broccoli Tater Tots

You may be skeptical, you may be amazed. But either way, behold the broccoli tater tot! (I think I just won motherhood) But before we get into specifics, let me explain something: I’m not a believer of “hiding” vegetables from my daughter or a green-fearing person of any age. But I sure do love the idea of stuffing vegetables in really yummy things, wherever and however possible. Like tater tots. Everybody loves tater tots. This is not up for discussion. And recently I’ve found that broccoli can do a lot more than steam and turn into mush. It makes a great pesto. I love it chopped and […]

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July 26, 2014

Blistered Bean and Nectarine Salad

Peas and carrots. Rice and beans. Peanut butter and jelly. Just like Hollywood and history books, the food world has its own set of iconic duos. And if you’re looking to play matchmaker in your own kitchen, you need look no further than what’s in season. Right now, stone fruit and beans (of the green, cranberry, and yellow wax variety) are taking over the market. They are, as you might say in the tabloids, “hot items.” And while they might seem like a totally odd couple at first glance, they actually work beautifully together; the crunch of the beans balancing […]

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June 13, 2014

Salt-Free Chunky Carrot Dressing

Carrots aren’t just for rabbits. Or dips. Or stews. Or over-steaming in microwaves. Fresh carrots are a thing of beauty. They actually come in a rainbow of colors, which will easily jazz up a raw veggie party platter. And they are pretty much “in season” all year long. Which you can’t say for asparagus or cherries or white pants. Best of all, carrots are higher in natural sodium than most whole ingredients. It charts in at 50mg per large carrot. Seriously. Take a look at a bottle of carrot juice the next time you’re at the market. Which is why they […]

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May 29, 2014

Cauliflower Rice and Corn Salad

Hold your lunch, things are about to change. Forever. I recently discovered the wonders of cauliflower rice, a darling of Paleo, raw, and vegetarian diets alike. And now, a darling of mine too. It’s a super creative solution for grain-free versions of things like sushi rice or couscous tabbouleh. You know, things like that. And while I was skeptical at first, after giving it a cauliflower rice salad try, I’ve become seriously obsessed. Not just because it is easy and surprisingly filling. But also because, once you ‘ve made it, there are so many ways you can use it. And note: even though […]

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