Snacks

March 5, 2014

To-Go Tostada

Let’s talk about work lunches. A subject fraught with fear over soggy sandwiches, gloppy noodles, and smelly leftovers. And the reason most people ditch the paper bag for quick take-out or plastic wrapped food instead. Luckily, though, a lot of people have tackled the problems of a work, afternoon meal. Bringing more flavor, more options, and more whole foods to the desk (whether it is beef lettuce wraps or using last night’s dinner party spread for a creamy meat sandwich). But for those on a low-sodium diet, making a simple, satisfying, and packable snack still poses a challenge. And it […]

October 25, 2013

Weekly Obsessions 10.25.13

I love to eat out. With friends. Case closed. I am, however, also HUGE fan of eating out of my own low-sodium snack pack when dining beyond the kitchen. I think of it as a low-sodium emergency kit, a “starving SOS,” just in case I find myself somewhere with nothing to eat. And whether it is a wedding, a potluck, or the Oscars (someday), you’ll always find me with a little brown bag of something something that will keep me fed and feeling full. But hold on to your snack pack and restaurant reservation for a moment, because last weekend […]

September 27, 2013

Kidney Friendly Pumpkin Quesadillas

Fall. It’s the time of year that people go totally bonkers over pumpkin. Pumpkin spiced lattes. Pumpkin muffins. Pumpkin perfume. Pumpkin colored pants. Pumpkins in windows, on doorsteps, and pretty much every which way you look. Which leads me to this announcement: It’s officially gourd season, people, and we want to be a part of it. So I started thinking of new ways to get more pumpkin in my food and my life. Because as a kidney-friendly and low-sodium ingredient (both in the canned and fresh forms), it will help you spice up and switch up favorite recipes. Of course, there’s […]

September 9, 2013

Baked Tofu Fries

I’m actually going on a vacation. A real life break from real life (kind of). And I can’t wait to tell you all about when I return. But in the meantime I’m leaving you with a Bon Voyage pre-vacation souvenir. I call them Tofu Fries and I really think you should give them a go while I’m gone. They’re really easy to make. Super low-sodium, as long as you make sure your firm tofu contains 0 to 15mg of sodium. And they’re completely addictive so don’t say I didn’t warn you. And apparently Mark Bittman loves them too because a […]

August 9, 2013

Zucchini Tortilla Bites

There are exactly three things I am super good at: 1) putting two words together to make one new word; 2) feeding friends during spontaneous gatherings, and 3) finding awesome substitutes for high-sodium ingredients. And low and behold, all three of these highly-useful talents have finally come together in one small bite of food. The Zucchini Tortilla Bite. It’s a snappetizer (snappy appetizer) that can be easily thrown together when unexpected guests arrive, wowing everyone with the pure geniusness (and tastiness) of stringy, melty zucchini used in place of salty cheese. So I’m going to keep it short and spicy this […]

February 11, 2013

2013 Love Your Heart Recipe Rally

Let’s begin with the facts and the numbers, because that’s always a very good place to start: The recommended daily sodium intake for a healthy American is 2,300mg, which equals 1 teaspoon of salt The recommended daily sodium intake for over 50% of adults (due to health problems, age, and other needs) is 1,500mg, which equals just over 1/2 teaspoon of salt Nine out of 10 Americans (that’s 90%) eat almost double the recommended daily intake, averaging over 3,500mg per day (and if you really consider the soy-sauced sushi, chorizo burrito, and milk swamped cereal…that number climbs even higher and adds […]

February 11, 2013

Pigs In Salt-Free Blankets

I’m not going to waste much time here, because we have some little piggies who are cold and need to be wrapped in blankets. STAT. But I will take a moment to explain why I decided to makeover this little party treat. Between the piggy (mini hot dogs) and the blankets (prepared croissant rolls), one serving can equal over 1,760mg of sodium, more than the 1,500mg daily recommended intake for most Americans. And you haven’t even added in ketchup and other dipping sauces. Not to mention that these are appetizers, which means there is a whole sodium-filled meal waiting to be consumed […]

July 4, 2012

Low-Sodium Food Fireworks

If you’re looking for something explosive, make this spicy mayo. Mix these two ingredients together: a 1/4 cup of the no-sodium mayo and a 1/2 teaspoon of the no-sodium chili paste. Then dip something, like sliced bell peppers or cauliflower chunks, into it. Bite, chew, eat. And taste the fire. Serious fire. It is still amazing to me that two simple low-sodium ingredients can pack so much punch. And that they can quickly transform anything — from a cool coleslaw to fajita fillings — into a meal that will give today’s sparklers a run for their money. Today, I’ve put […]

May 29, 2012

Mistakes and Low-Sodium Pickled Cherries

Last week I posted about Labor day and roasted garbanzo beans. Turns out, it was Memorial day. This is what some people refer to as a “mistake.” And like frittatas, it is something I make with healthy frequency. At least once a day. And that’s probably a generous underestimate. For the frittatas and the mistakes. As for this latest mishap? It is definitely more embarrassing than misreading the package of Gluten Flour while baking gluten free crumble (which I did last week). But way less disastrous than setting my kitchen oven on fire while making tortillas (which I did last […]

May 25, 2012

Low-Sodium Labor (slash, Memorial) Day & Baked Garbanzos

(Before you read, be warned: this post mentions Labor Day many times which, as you may have noticed, should actually be Memorial Day. But because I believe in embracing mistakes, I’m leaving it. So please, enjoy. Even if it’s a few months early) Do you know why we celebrate Labor Day? Neither do I. But I do know that I love three day weekends, especially those filled with picnics, potlucks, and BBQs. So here’s a recipe for a crispy snacketizer — salt-free’d from Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Everyday vegetarian food bible –which will keep you and your friends satisfied between […]

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