Sodium Girl

Low-So Good Unicorn Oatmeal

I’m not one that usually goes for foods fads or hashtag trends. Not because I don’t like them. Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of spaghetti donuts or bacon “bread” or Oreo stuffed cookie dough. These crazy food mash-ups have all taken the Internet by storm and they all sound amazing. And fun. And I’m always down to play with my food. The problem is, because I’m a mainly whole foods, real ingredients, less bacon and more parsley kind of gal, I can’t really eat these things (is it rude to call them “things”?) And I tend to stick to my own, less […]

February 13, 2017

Low-So Good LOVE Recipes

It’s pretty darn wonderful that there is practically a whole month dedicated to LOVE. Yes, there’s the official day of love — hello, Valentine’s! Of course there’s National Heart Health Month, too, which loosely translates into four weeks of “treating yourself right.” And in general, between blushing cheeks, neighborly kindness, and heart-shaped flare, the streets are pulsing with patience and random acts of sweetness. Which is just magical. And that brings me naturally to food. Food is one of the easiest ways to show your love for someone. Whether it is a small, sugar-filled treat or something hearty and savory, made with your blood, sweat, and happy tears. […]

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 […]

November 19, 2016

The Big Low-So Thanksgiving Post

We’ve arrived. The ultimate food-centered holiday. THANKSGIVING! Where we stuff our guts full of tradition and mashed potatoes. And I’ve got a 10-pound turkey’s worth of tips and recipes for you, to make sure that your table remains full of flavor and favorite dishes, while keeping the feast bright, fresh, healthy, and of course low-sodium. But I also want to take this moment (and electronic Internet page) to throw something else out there: Let’s use this Thanksgiving to honor not just ourselves and our family tree, but the culinary history of others. Amidst everything happening right now and all that has bubbled to the surface of our daily lives, […]

October 31, 2016

Super Simple Macaroon Tarts

Now that Halloween has come and gone, it’s time to focus on the next big event in the this holiday marathon: THANKSGIVING. A time when we come together with friends and family to loosen our pants and indulge on all the sweet and savory recipes we love, brimming with tradition and childhood memories. As well as lots and lots and lots of sodium. But before you toss Grandma’s casserole in the trash forever, take a breath. And then take a look around your kitchen and grocery store. Because there are plenty of food swaps and ingredient tricks that will help kick the sodium down a […]

October 29, 2016

Low-So Good Spooky Cookies

Halloween is around the weekend corner. Which, in my book, means the start of the glutinous holiday season. Lots of pumpkin spice. And most importantly, treats treats treats! And while salt is clearly my b*tch, sugar is my total soft spot. My edible achilles heel. My delicious kryptonite. When sugary treats are around, I can’t help but devour it. All of it. But beyond sucrose overload, most sweet treats are also high in…sodium! NO? YES! It’s true. Whether it is the baking powder and baking soda in baked cookies, breads, and muffins OR actual salt in bars, gummies, and hard candies — those sweet treats could […]

October 7, 2016

Low-So Purple Sweet Potato Empanadas

It’s October which means it’s time for Halloween-themed treats, made freakishly colorful by super natural ingredients (see what I did there?). So let’s start out with these purple sweet potato empanadas that were scary easy to make (I did it again!). I mean, seriously, I had these in the oven and ready-to-eat in less than two episodes of Project Runway. And the dough (THE DOUGH!) came together in a literal stir and snap. So don’t be afraid to try it. Now, I’ve been meaning to try empanadas ever since my daughter became obsessed with a book about empanadas. But the […]

August 4, 2016

Low-So Pizza Party

These days, most people have some sort of dietary requirement. Maybe it’s an allergy or an intolerance. A new food fad or a simple dislike. But the point is, when hosting a dinner party, you will most likely not be the only one with a special food request. And the list of ingredients you cannot use may runneth long. But here’s the thing: You can’t ignore these needs (because you would never want anyone to ignore yours). And you also cannot break your back (or the bank), making separate dishes for Tina, Ivan, Susan, and Uncle Frank’s new girlfriend that he never told you was […]

July 24, 2016

Banh Mi Lettuce Wraps

When I was about six, I saw my first live musical. I think it was Les Miserables, which looking back (and with a kid of my own) seems like a rather strange choice for a tiny human who could barely tie her own shoes and thought her stuffed animals came alive at night. For the sake of the story, though, let’s just say it was something grand. And during intermission, I turned to my mother with wide eyes to ask, “when can I do that?” She answered, “not until you’re eight.” And while everyone thought the passing months would erase this date from my […]

July 13, 2016

Low-So Cabbage Shumai

I’ve thought a lot about this post. I’ve written it and rewritten about a dozen times in my head. I’ve questioned how much to share, how personal to get, how much to keep this post free from deep thoughts and politics. And I can promise that after today, things will return to their regularly scheduled food programming. But I want to risk something. The truth is, I’m white. I take Soul Cycle classes. I shop at farmers markets and Whole Foods. Although I’ve hit the glass ceiling a few times as a woman, I’m treated with respect and I’ve been raised to believe my […]

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