Snacking

January 12, 2017

2017 Low-So Reboot

Happy 2017 dearest internet friends! With the new year, I’m entering my 34th year of life and my 13th year living with lupus and kidney disease. And while the past 365 days have had their ups and downs. And downs. And more downs. They also brought a renewed faith in food and its power to heal. See: 34 years old with the same stage 4 kidneys. Still kicking! As you may remember, last year, I welcomed January with a big anti-inflammation overhaul of my diet — no wheat or gluten, no eggs, no dairy, no sugar, no soy, no nightshade vegetables, NO […]

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April 22, 2016

Low-So Summer Socca Pizza

I had a dream about pizza last night. A thin, crispy crusted pizza slathered with rich, gooey cheese all mixed with creamy sauce. It had all the right flavors and textures. And I couldn’t gobble up enough of it. In my dream. That’s because pizza is just the best. It’s so wonderful, that it even tastes good cold. Like, straight from the fridge cold. And it is one of the foods that people miss most when going on a low-sodium diet. Not just for its flavors and cheese. But for the comfort. And the convenience. The good news is that several low-so […]

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April 1, 2016

Top Low-So Ingredient Swaps

Happy April Fools Day, World!  A time to practice extreme silliness and joy, and plan a prank or two. And, in my opinion, the perfect holiday to play a little (or a lot) with your food. Because really, everyday on a low-so diet (or any diet) is a “fool” day, in which one uses creativity and fun to trick those eyeballs and those tastebuds. And trust me, if I can make vegan, low-so, and gluten-free Twinkies a reality, seriously, anything is possible. So to inspire your own edible tom-foolery — today and everyday — check out some of my favorite ingredients swaps that expertly mimic favorite foods […]

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February 19, 2016

Low-So Cauliflower Vegetable Bread

Kale may be a superfood. But cauliflower is a food unicorn. It’s totally magical. With the right recipe and ingredients, cauliflower can turn into a pizza crust. Or white pizza sauce. Mashed “potatoes.”  Popcorn. Rice. A steak. CHORIZO!!! Vegan macaroni and “cheese.” And even a ricotta-like situation (which I have in my new book and coming soon to theKitchn.com, but you can find a similar recipe here). Come to think of it, cauliflower is not just a unicorn; it’s a top tier impersonator. And if it could, I’m sure it would headline as Cher in Vegas. The point is, now that I’m on an even more limited […]

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April 3, 2015

Matzo Bar and Apple Doughnuts

Happy EastOver, everyone! It’s that special time of year when religion, eggs, and chocolate combine. But I love this duo of celebrations for more than an abundance of frittatas, candy, and excuses to gather with friends. I love EastOver because of matzo. Matzo just happens to be one of my favorite low-sodium ingredients.  It generally contains 0mg of sodium. And sometimes, during Passover, you can find flavored matzo (and chocolate matzo!) as well. Although, you can always spice it up on your own. But more specifically, I love matzo because it provides a solution to one of the biggest sodium challenges (which we will […]

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August 15, 2014

Quick Cracker Hack

I will never forget how I felt when I discovered my first bag of salt-free potato chips. It was a low-sodium snacking revelation! Then came salt-free tortilla chips, beet and sweet potato chips, and finally, salt-free rice crackers. All products that increasingly improved my ability to stay fueled and well appetize’d throughout the day and evening. But what about feeding others? Most of the time, my guests were surprisingly pleased with the taste and texture of these salt-free options. Many starting to opt for the salt-free versions. But as for the flavor options — well, they all fell to the blander […]

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April 11, 2014

Salt-Free Matzoh Nachos and Crackers

It’s that time of year when matzoh makes its way to the main market aisles (not hidden in the “ethnic food section”). And while the rest of the world may associate matzoh with Passover, matzoh ball soup, and a vehicle for eating bowls of charoset, us low-sodium folks know matzoh is one of the greatest tools for a creative salt-free kitchen. That’s because most matzoh, unless seasoned, contains zer0 milligrams of sodium (zer-OMG!). And whether you use them for to scoop up your egg salad, as an open-faced sandwich, as bread crumbs, or a pie crust, and even as a […]

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February 19, 2014

Crunchy Cornmeal Broccoli

For all those broccoli haters and naysayers, I’m about to seriously rock your world. And change snack time forever. FOREVER. In doing some research on how to make truly scrumptious turnip fries (this is a thing), I discovered the power of mixing vegetables with a simple cornmeal coating, thanks to the gorgeous blog My New Roots. Her “shake and bake” strategy cuts down on time and mess while increasing the crunchy coating factor. Meaning, little work and big crunchy results. And since trying this technique with turnips and baby broccoli florets, I’ve also used it to make flour and fry-free […]

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October 30, 2013

Low-Sodium Candy Land

I wish I could tell you that I pass out brussels sprouts on Halloween. Or that I fill my own trick or treat bag with kale chips and goji berries. But then I would be a liar. And people like liars as much as people who pass out brussels sprouts on Halloween. So instead, let me give you the shocking truth. I have an insatiable sweet tooth/teeth/jaw. And while I make healthy eating my mission 364 days out of the year, there is one special night that I let my candy freak flag fly. (Halloween). Let’s not dance around. Simply […]

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October 23, 2013

BBQ Apple Chips

Here’s the thing about October. It’s all about apples. Apple cider. Apple picking. Apple fennel soup. Apple pie. Apple cobbler. Apple potato hash browns. Appleseed, Johnny. Apple candy. Apple bobbing. Apple baking. (I think I’m having  a Forrest Gump moment). Point being: apples are super transformative. They are also naturally low in sodium and kidney friendly. And from the long list of apple recipes and apple activities that are possible, it’s pretty clear  that apples are the star of this fall party. So move aside pumpkin. This fruit has your number. But that’s not the end of the story. Because there’s […]

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