Tag Archives: Low Sodium Tips

Low Sodium Dietary Tips

Adjusting flavor, while reducing salt.  Mildy palate pleasing herbs in all your favortie dishes.

Basil, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Garlic, Onion   • Use each alone or mix them together.

• BASIL, OREGANO, PARSLEY taste great in tomato sauces, (use low sodium tomatoes or tomato sauce).   Serve the sauce with pasta or rice. 

  • Fresh minced garlic and diced onion sauté in a 2 Tbsp oil for 7 minutes on med low. Add tomato sauce simmer for 20 minutes, add oregano and parsley, OR basil at end.
  • With 2 tbsp olive oil combine equal parts of ROSEMARY, SAGE, THYME, to a GARLIC clove, half ONION saute` in pan on medium low for 7-10 minutes and then add to your favorite bean dish.
    • Try any of these herbs in your steamed vegetables or in soups.
  • Chives, Dill, Parsley ,Tarragon       • Steam any one of these with your vegetables or with fish.
  • • Tarragon is great in soup.
  • • Dill is great in rice with vegetables and kidney beans, or in dips with yogurt and low fat sour cream.
  • Chives and parsley are great on top of salad, soup or baked potato. They are also good in dips with yogurt and sour cream.

Allspice, Garlic, Marjoram ,Parsley ,Thyme       • Mix these herbs and spices together and rub into any meat, poultry, or pork  for a terrific dish.
Marjoram, Rosemary, Tarragon             • Combine spices and rub into the chicken or turkey (with the skin removed) and steam it.
Curry powder, Turmeric, minced Garlic and diced Onions   • Saute` in 2-3 Tbsp olive oil for 7 minutes on med low temp, then add tomatoes (tomato sauce), rice, black beans and corn for a delicious Spanish flavor.

Low Sodium Meal Plan DASH Diet

“Dash Diet” 

Avoid eating foods from cans that are high in sodium (salt)

The average American presently consumes 5-8 tsps of salt per day! This is extremely dangerous in the long run for your organs, but specifically for the heart and kidneys.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), or a low sodium diet is  an easy lifestyle to adapt by limiting salt intake to 1-2 tsp’s per day & add potassium to provide balance and flushing out excess sodium with:

Eat a Meal High in Potassium: Fruit, Veggies, Legumes, Fish

  • Fresh Fruit
  • Fresh Vegetables
  • Legumes (dried, cooked at home, seasoned: garlic, onion, rosemary)
  • Fresh Fish.
  • 6-8 Glasses of water or tea.

Following the Mediterranean or DASH Diet gives a person the proper amounts of food consumed at each sitting therefore reducing risk of hypertension for an individual.  There are a variety of Salt Substitutes on the market.   Mrs. Dash is commonly used and a favorite of most, does come in a variety of flavors. However, vegetables tossed and sauteed in olive oil with fresh herbs and fish or meats prepared with spices and herbs, add flavor and reduce sodium. Obtain more ideas on how to use Herbs and Spices to Replace the Salt Shaker

Fluids are equally important to a successful diet.  Lemon Water made with 1/2-1 freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of water each day, an additional source of potassium to rid the body of excess sodium . Foods to restrict if instructed to follow a Low Sodium Meal are: Carrots, Celery, Spinach, Beets.  Additional tips:

  • Stop consuming tap water that is conditioned with a water softener
  • Drink bottled water and Green, Black or White Tea
  • Rinse all canned foods really well before preparing them.

Meal Plan Low Sodium (LS)

Breakfast
Bread or Cereal…. Oatmeal (Instant “Heart Healthy Advanced Nutrition” LS and high Potassium)
Fruit…………………..apple, orange, kiwi, banana, dried apricots, prunes, raisins
Orange Juice or skim 1% Milk.

Snack am
Fruit 

Lunch
Vegetable……………cole slaw
Vegetable……………LS Cream of potato soup, baked sweet potato
Meat…………………..meatloaf with LS Gravy (3 0z). grilled or baked salmon, fish
Vegetable…………..twice baked potato and steamed green beans
Bread…………………wheat Roll
Dessert……………..orange sherbet, pears, plums

Snack pm 
Fruit…………………..(Choose 1) banana, Kiwi, orange, seasonal fruit
Milk…………………. ..4-6 oz low or nonfat yogurt

Dinner
Meat……………….,,seasoned Chicken Breast (3 oz)  (turned in freshly chopped herbs and garlic)
Bread……………….sesame seed multi grain bun,
Vegetable………….Lettuce, tomato and onion (cooked or raw)
Vegetable……….. .soup Lima or white beans, salad with avocado, beets, spinach
Fruit…………………fruit, melon……………LS apple pie

References

 

Chicken and Dumplings (reduced-sodium)

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

2 Tbsp. flour

1 cup cooked chicken, diced

2 Tbsp. water

1/4 tsp. Mrs. Dash salt substitute

1 cup Very-low Sodium chicken broth granules

Dash pepper

Mix the flour and water in a pan until smooth.

Slowly stir in broth.

Cook over medium heat until thickened.

Add chicken, salt and pepper.

Drop dumpling dough from a tablespoon onto gently boiling mixture, making 4 dumplings.

Cover pan tightly and cook slowly for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.

Serves 2.

 Dumplings:

1/3 cup flour

1/4 tsp. Mrs. Dash salt substitute

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 Tbsp. milk

Combine flour baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Stir in milk until dough forms.

NUTRITION FACTS (per serving) – Calories 300 ~ fat 11 g ~ calories from fat 100 ~ sodium 250 mg ~total carbohydrate 23 g

Pita Pocket Tacos

Pita Pocket Tacos can be made as a delicious vegetable or a meaty meal. Spray with a lime wedge to bring out the many flavors!

1/2 pound lean ground meat 2 Tbsp. water (optional)

1/2 cup yellow pepper, sliced

2 Tbsp. tomato sauce

1/2 cup onion

1/8 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp. salt 

1/2 garlic clove, minced

Chopped finely 2 ounces low fat Monterey Jack cheese

Lettuce, shredded

1 Tomato, chopped

1 Avocado diced

1 pocket (pita) bread, cut in half

Brown ground meat and drain off fat.

Add onions, pepper and salt; cook until tender, about 10 minutes.

Combine garlic and cumin together. Add water to garlic and cumin, stir, then add to browned meat.

Stir in tomato sauce.

Simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes.

Warm pocket bread in toaster or oven.

Stuff with ground meat mixture and garnish with lettuce, tomato, avocado and low fat cheese. Serves 2.

NUTRITION FACTS (per serving) – Calories 480 ~ fat 25 g ~ calories from fat 230 ~ sodium 285 mg ~total carbohydrate 29 g

Baked Chicken Entree

Baked Chicken with Vegetables

Assemble your dinner in 5 minutes and let the oven do the rest! Enhance and accent your meal through the use of freshly chopped herbs. Enjoy the Reduced Sodium Baked Chicken Entree` where the herb’s bring out the chef in your kitchen!

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 diced onion
1-2 Red or Yellow Pepper, cut into strips
2-4 skinless chicken breasts boneless or with ribs
1/2 cup White Wine (or 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/3 cup water)
1/4 tsp.  Salt (or salt substitute)
1/4 tsp Cracked Pepper
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh Basil. (or 1 teaspoon dry Basil
3-4  medium size Potatoes, quartered
1/8 c. Parmesan Cheese
1 Tablepoon freshly chopped Parsley (1 teaspoon dry Parsley
Preheat oven to 350F.

DIRECTIONS
Rinse Chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken onto a clean plate and set aside. Immediately discard towels. Wash hands.

Cover chicken with potatoes

Add 1 Tbsp Olive Oil to baking dish.

Add onion & pepper slices to dish

Add White Wine (or Vinegar/Water)

Place chicken into baking dish. Drizzle 1/2 Tbsp of Olive Oil over chicken

Season chicken: 1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp cracked pepper, choppedbasil.

Quarter potatoes, place over chicken.

Drizzle with 1 Tbsp olive oil.

Season with 1/8 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp cracked pepper, Parmesan Cheese and chopped Parsley.

Cover dish with aluminum. Bake approximately 35 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes. Serves 2-4.  

NUTRITION FACTS (per serving) – Calories 550 ~ fat 4.5 g ~ calories from fat 45 ~ sodium 350 mg ~ total carbohydrate 55 g