Veggies

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. […]

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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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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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December 4, 2015

Super Easy Low-So Good Waffle Latkes

With the Thanksgiving turkey long gone and gobbled up, it’s time to turn our attention to the next winter holiday ahead of us. Chanukah! Or Hanukkah. Or Channanoonanookahhhhh. Because I never really learned how to spell it correctly. But beyond a rather abundant number of c’s and h’s, there’s one thing I do know a lot about when it comes to this festival of lights — you can’t have Chanukah without latkes. A crispy, fried, potato delight that usually gets smothered and shmeared with applesauce and sour cream, latkes are a staple of any Chanukah feast.  And over the years, I’ve tasted some great latkes. Some overly-oily latkes. […]

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November 19, 2015

Low-So Good Thanksgiving Roundup

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I repeat: Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. That’s because it marks the start of “snuggle” season, where the air gets cooler. The neighborhood gets covered in lights. The music on the radio changes from Top 40 to jingle bells. Evenings get filled with alternating smells of squash soup and cinnamon. And, as for the holiday itself, the home and the table gets filled with tradition, memories, and family and friends. But if you’re on a low-so or really ANY kind of special diet, holiday season may give you both stress and indigestion. And that’s because so […]

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October 29, 2015

Unprocessed Purple Sweet Potato Cupcakes

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: low-sodium diets have a major branding problem. Many people — with heart disease, kidney disease, menieres disease, and other health issues — can stand to benefit from eating less salt and sodium. And yet no one takes the bait. Because the bait still sounds pretty boring and bland and more like a prescription than something you want to eat. Here’s the thing, though: A low-sodium diet is food. FOOD! And while yes, it can be boring, any kind of food can be boring. So it’s up to you to make it exciting. To use spices […]

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September 25, 2015

Low-So Crispy Mushroom Bits

This lesson starts with bacon bits. The crispy, crumbly pieces of cooked pork product that people (i.e. me) love/loved to pour on top of everything from wedge salads to creamy soups. Maybe even ice cream. And beyond big bursts of bacon flavor, these savory sprinkles add texture to “softer” foods, giving you something to crunch.  But as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, they also tend to add a lot of sodium; about 200mg per 7g serving (or a few teaspoons). And that’s because bacon bits are (surprise!) super processed and mostly made from cured, salted bacon. Of course, I’ve found a few low-so […]

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March 17, 2015

Low-So Green Sauces

Pardon the interruption of Salt-Free Salt month. But I though, it being St. Patty’s day and all, I’d bring you something green. Well two things: First, my Low-So Spinach Sauce. And then, my Kale Pesto French Toast. They are both superhero condiments of edible proportions. So let’s start with spinach. I love this sauce not just for it’s velvety texture. Nor its tangy taste. Nor the fact that you can sneak in a whole load of vegetables into your next pasta, salad, or steak dinner. What I love so much about this sauce (or dressing, depending on how you use it) is that it uses spinach. […]

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February 20, 2015

Bacon Spice and Coconut Bacon Bits

We are midway through our month of low-so sausage and low-so bacon, and it’s time to shift our focus from the big bites to the itty bits. I’m talking bacon bits. That crunchy topping that gets sprinkled on top of iceberg lettuce salads, crumbled on top of pastas or deviled eggs, and baked right into the crispy crust of a casserole. Even though they are teeny teeny tiny, these little bits can sure add a lot of sodium to a simple, healthy meal. Like over 200mg per 7g serving (or a few teaspoons). And that’s because bacon bits are (surprise!) mostly made from cured, salted bacon. But you […]

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November 24, 2014

Roasted Lamb Thanksgiving Roundup

Alright friends. Get ready for a roundup of Thanksgiving dishes that is going to be bigger than last year’s 26-pound turkey. Hint: anytime you see anything bolded in orange, that is a link to a recipe or tips. So click away for total Thanksgiving domination. But before we jump into the lentil gravy boat (see how I did that?) and talk stuffing, sides, and other non-traditional dishes, let me say this about this year’s low-sodium holiday feast: break tradition. I give you permission. It’s the easiest way to free yourself from the salty brines and canned soups, and create a whole new […]

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