7 Salt-Slashing Tricks

Eat less salt. You’ve heard the advice before. And it might sound like it’s a sentence to somehow enjoy eating flavorless foods. Fortunately, many foods and dishes still taste great without being loaded with sodium, and there are multiple ways you can lower the amount of sodium in your diet.

Keep Your Hands Off the Salt Shaker

If you’re trying to eat less sodium, an easy place to start is to keep your hands off the salt shaker. For most people, eating processed foods is usually the source of too much sodium. But if you’re a regular salt shaker who seasons foods like tomatoes, corn, mixed vegetables, and even watermelon with salt, putting the salt shaker down can help you cut back on sodium.

Beware of Sauces, Mixes, and Seasonings
It’s easy to overlook, but things like sauces, salad dressings, and mixed seasonings usually contain high levels of sodium. If you’re not sure how much sodium a sauce, mix or seasoning contains, read the food label. Keep in mind that a healthy amount of sodium is 1,500 mg to 2,300 mg a day.

Look for Low-Sodium Options

An estimated 1 in 3 adults in the United States has high blood pressure. Too much sodium in the diet is often a factor. Fortunately, many food manufacturers have made low-sodium versions of soups, cheeses, prepared meals, and other foods to help you cut back on sodium.

At MagicKitchen.com. we’ve created a large selection of Low Sodium Meals that make it easy to cut back on sodium and still enjoy tasty, mouth-watering meals like Zesty Orange Chicken Tenders, Corn and Pepper Medley, and Mixed Greens, Cheese Manicotti & Vegetable Alfredo, Meatballs with Penne Pasta & Broccoli, and many others.

Steer Clear of Fast Food
Fast foods like burgers, fries, pizza, hot dogs, and fried foods are some of the worst offenders when it comes to sodium. These are foods you want to limit or avoid to eat less sodium. If you’re pressed for time, order a salad and go easy on the dressing or eat some fresh fruit. If you do go out to eat, ask for any sauces to be served on the side.

Season Foods with Herbs and Spices
Just because your doctor told you to cut back on sodium, doesn’t mean you have to settle for bland-tasting food. In fact, herbs and spices can add a lot of flavor to your favorite foods (not to mention vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants), without adding sodium to your meal.

Salt-Cravings Change with Time
If you’re trying to cut back on your taste for salty foods, be patient. It takes time to retrain your taste buds and your brain to enjoy food that isn’t loaded with sodium. Gradually reducing the amount of sodium you consume is the best way to make the change.