Tips & Tricks

February 8, 2012

Answering CDC’s Sodium Call

Yesterday, the CDC (and NPR) released one of the most comprehensive reports on the origins of America’s high sodium intake. Turns out it can be boiled down to ten popular foods. What comes as a surprise to most is that sodium doesn’t just exist in that shaker. Or that bottle of soy sauce. Or on top of French fries. But that high sodium counts can be found in soups, cheeses, and pizza and even more surprisingly, in less obvious culprits like bread, milk, and that seemingly healthy whole wheat sandwich with oven-roasted deli meat. That “healthy choice” lunch alone, even [...]

February 1, 2012

February First and Final Farewell

As we say rabbit, rabbit for a new month, we are also (sadly) saying goodbye to our guest blogger Chelsea and her good gal pal, Meradith, who so bravely took on Low-So January even though neither had any good health reason to kick salt from the kitchen. If I used emoticons, I’d definitely put a frowny face right here. These two ladies took no short-cuts when it came to no-salt living. They braved meals out, meals with others, lunches in the office, and weekends far away from home. By watching them, it became very clear: with patience, practice, preparation, and [...]

January 26, 2012

Greatist Low-Sodium Advice

You know what I love? I love when I see non-sodium related blogs and websites talking about a low-sodium lifestyle. And a few weeks ago, the latest in online Health and Fitness – Greatist — offered 21 Lower-Sodium Solutions to help slash high-salt continent from one’s life. And for a bunch of food and fitness writers who do not have to keep the diet themselves (and admittedly love pretzels with mustard), they really hit the salt-shaker on the head. Some of my favorites? Eggs for baking soda This superfood an do more than round out a morning omelet. Depending on the recipe, one [...]

January 20, 2012

Lo-So January Week 3: Chelsea Improvises

I’ve dragged friends and loved ones to plenty of amateur sketch comedy hours to know that improv can be pretty painful. But when it comes to cooking–especially low-sodium cooking–improve is essential. And totally delicious. Take last night’s dinner, for example. Forget about what happened when the chicken crossed the road. Let’s focus instead on what happened when the chicken and some chopped coleslaw cabbage met my crock pot. BBQ chicken stew. That’s what happened. Inside my bag of tricks were: three poultry thighs, garlic, red onion, crispy cabbage, Stonehouse 27 Tomato and Chilies sauce, and fresh squeezed orange juice. And [...]

January 19, 2012

How To Sex-Up That Salad

As you may have noticed, this month we have been tackling the most difficult challenge for low-sodium eaters: Lunch. And as you may have already experienced in your own low-sodium adventures, finding something to eat during this middle meal of the day often leads to one thing: Salt-free, dressing-less salads. Which, in my opinion, are like the carnations of the food world. Technically a part of the edible kingdom, but pretty much the last item on an actual menu that you’d want to order. (Sorry, but it’s true). Turns out, undressed salads aren’t all that sexy. And while you can [...]

January 13, 2012

Low-So January Week 2: Chelsea Dines Out

Doesn’t that dish look succulent? Rich with colors and juices and, hey, even a side of gravy? This is a meal worth talking about long after the food is gone. And that gravy boat has been emptied. (Straw please?) And believe it or not, this beautiful plate is completely salt-free and low-sodium. Yeah, I kid you not. Thanks to Chris Consentino at Incanto restaurant, I’ve been eating this good at his table for almost four years. The king of salty pig parts himself has happily (and successfully) prepared intricate low-sodium meals for me anytime I show up on his door step. [...]

January 6, 2012

Low-So January Week 1: Chelsea Travels

Meet some of your best low-sodium friends. They are plastic containers. And they’ll help you take low-sodium meals wherever you roam. It’s just one trick of many that make low-sodium eating and traveling and dinner party-going possible. And our low-sodium hero, Chelsea, already picked up on the idea during her first week of low-sodium living. She’s so smart. But enough from me. Let’s hear about it from her…. (And if I got paid to write this blog, I’d surely be worried about my job right about now. This girl’s got skills) LOW-SO JANUARY DIARY: WEEK ONE Greetings from week one [...]

January 3, 2012

A New Year and 7 Links

A few months ago one of my favorite fellow bloggers tapped me on the shoulder to join him for the “My 7 Links Project”–the purpose of which was to reflect on one’s own blog, to resurface posts that had been lost in the shuffle, and to build a web of community by asking other online writers to do the same. Now in typical busy life fashion, many book deadlines, holiday egg nog, and the need for sleep kept getting in the way of this post. Weeks and weeks have gone by. And the words “write 7 links” constantly appeared on [...]

December 16, 2011

Holiday Q & A

This is wild rice, pomegranate stuffing. It was my take on a recipe I found in one of these torn pages from one of many holiday-themed magazines. It was a dish that my mom specially requested for Thanksgiving. And one I happily made over for my salt-free diet. I added pickled cherries and pomegranates. Caramelized onions and fennel. And fresh apple and dill for some bite. And soon, I not only fulfilled my mother’s holiday cravings, but I had created a new recipe and tradition of my own. I want the same to be true for you and your holidays [...]

November 28, 2011

Small Bites for Big Feasts

I am happily stuffed from Thanksgiving. But I’m far from being done with my holiday eatings. And I hope you aren’t giving up on the feasting any time soon either. Because this holiday season, I want to hit everything on your wish-list. I want to make sure all your wildest culinary dreams come, whether it is salt-free caviar or the perfect low-sodium BBQ spice blend. Or the personal butler to make you french fries any time of day or night. And while I can’t actually help you with the butler thing (sorry, backordered on Amazon), I can most definitely help [...]

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