Dining Out

May 1, 2015

Low-So Lunch: Rock the Roll

To complete our month of packable, low-so-good lunches (also known as April), I want to tell you about the almighty Lunch Roll. The principle behind the Lunch Roll is very basic: you take a few ready-to-eat-things (including a good slather of a something sticky or pasty and edible), and wrap it all up in another ready-to-eat-thing. It’s very simple lunch math. Now the hard part is finding those things in low-sodium form. Some of the most popular rolls tend to be the lavash roll (sodium) filled with prepared hummus or pesto (sodium) and pre-cooked deli meat or chicken (sodium). Of course, there is also […]

April 24, 2015

Low-So Good Microwave Meals and Chips

For a long time, I thought I would never see certain words go together. Like, “good microwave meals.” Or “fast low-sodium food.” That’s because most prepared foods (ramen!) or frozen meals (macaroni!) come with a high sodium price tags. And thus, I always thought that good low-sodium food required stoves and ovens and longer preparation times. Not just a press of a button. But as with all things low-sodium, nothing is impossible. And overtime, I discovered simple ways to make great meals in a microwave. Just using some raw ingredients, some low-so spices, and that magical heating device. Why is that important? Because if you work, […]

December 11, 2013

Travel Tips: Holiday Edition

For a long time, I thought a special diet and medical needs meant staying at home. Travelling felt like too difficult of a task to attempt. And hotel rooms, unfamiliar cities, and museum-filled itineraries felt more like frightening obstacles than alluring opportunities. I wondered, without my kitchen, could I ever keep up my diet? Without my gym, could I keep my body moving? And without my safe place (i.e. my home), could I explore the great world outside my door, enjoy every minute of it, and return home just as healthy if not healthier than before? The good news is, […]

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 12, 2012

Joy Bauer and Low-Sodium Lo Mein

When it comes to healthy eating, do you know who’s the boss? Joy Bauer. This little package of high energy and healthy eating advice knows the ins and outs of the foods we love to eat. And in her new series, “What the Heck,” made in partnership with Everyday Health, she’s exposing the good, the bad, and the better choices. From fro yo to hot dogs. While her videos are not salt-intake specific, you’ll be surprised how often sodium makes an appearance. And how much of it ends up in processed foods. Plus, it never hurts to brush up on other […]

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 12, 2012

Low-Sodium Microwaveable Lunch Challenge, #2

It’s chilly. Which means it is time to make chili. And while I am quite devoted to my black and red beans, I thought these blustery days deserved something a little lighter. A little whiter. So I traded the darker hues for some creamy Cannellini (or butter beans). But just because the beans are pale doesn’t mean the dish has to be colorless. So I added yellow corn, green jalapenos, red onion, red tomato, yellow and purple potatoes, and some matchstick zucchini and orange carrots. All of this could easily go in a pot, with a little water, to steam […]

January 10, 2012

Low-Sodium Microwaveable Lunch Challenge

Wouldn’t it be extraordinary to simply unpack a pre-made meal from its cardboard box. Rip off the plastic. Throw it in the microwave. And have your lunch ready and hot in minutes? That would be nice. But on a low-sodium diet, these “open and heat” dishes are filled with sodium (not to mention other non-food unmentionables). So to stick to the diet, one must either (a) quit your job and work and cook from home or (b) bring leftovers with you for your noon-time chow fest. I’ve tried both. And while working from home definitely lets me (over)feed myself great […]

December 27, 2011

Back in the Kitchn – Health for the Holidays

As the holidays wind down and new year’s resolutions begin to percolate, let me give you one last how-to list for expertly navigating a special diet during special occasions. TheKitchn.com was kind enough to let me guest post my advice again on their site. And whether this article relates to your needs (or perhaps can be enlightening to a few hosts and hostesses in your life), feel free to forward on. That way, you can have healthy treats wherever you eat. Hope your holidays continue to be full of cheer. Chow on.

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