no salt for 5 days......help me!

[sinopa27]

I am kicking the salt habit. I love salt more than anything else on earth. I carry salt packets with me, can't eat without salt, think of salt all the time and could use a salt lick a day!! LOL!!

Day # 5 and I think I noticed that I am not as swollen. hmmm.......interesting.

[mama2James]

Good for you for trying to break the addiction! I very much understand where you are coming from, I am a fellow addict and being pregnant, I can almost watch my ankles swell when I have too much salt.
Are you just avoiding the salt shaker for now, or are you also cutting out other salty things like chips, canned soups, lunch meat etc? I ask, because honestly, processed foods are where most of the sodium in our diets comes from. The table salt we add is the least of the problem for most people, especially if you are doing this for health reasons, to control your blood pressure etc.

[Josephhgoins]

good point Mama! Also lots of Sodium in Diet Soda's for those of us who drink them. If you read the nutrition information on some the only thing they add to your diet is sodium.

[mombottoo]

Now, I am just the opposite I don't use salt on anything...never have. Actually when people come over to eat I consider it an insult if they salt their food before actually tasting it...salt is a seasoning and a not very good for you.

[Grainlady]

Sodium IS essential in the diet, but we can get more than enough sodium from whole foods without adding it from a salt shaker; and most processed foods have WAY too much in it. Once you break the salt habit, you'll start to enjoy FOOD, rather than salt, so here's rooting for you to win your struggle.

I was at a friends home for a party and she was serving salt-free potato chips (Art's & Mary's - the really crunchy kind) and was raving about how good they were. I'm not one for chips, other than what I make at home (we eat dehydrated zucchini instead of chips, and baked homemade tortilla chips), I tried them. I was amazed how much flavor those potato chips had compared to regular potato chips, and that you didn't need to devour the entire package. Other than the high amount of fat, they really were good.

[shoiji]

I try to cook with little salt. Also cook with mostly kosher salt.

Good substitues are herbs and spices. Try powdered garlic and oinion. Lemon is also a good substitue for salt. It will probably take a couple of days for you to get used to how food really is supposed to taste.

Now, if I eat something to salty I just can't eat it!!

[dcompton]

I second the unsalted chips - I love them. But they're not always easy to find. Yes, still high fat, but maybe only half as bad for you!

[jlaporte]

Good for you! You will reap the benifits in no time! I myself cook with very lil salt.

[derrygirl]

I've been to one particular restaurant where I've had to send the food back because it was too salty. I noticed it in their soup, caesar salad, and fajitas. I do not use salt when cooking, and the only thing I use it on sparingly is french fries.

[PlainCash4]

I would switch to sea salt, and just use alot less at first. Sea salt does cost a little more, but if you use less.......

[PlainCash4]

I think thats why i like mexican food so much...lol

[mama2James]

Just wanted to kindly point out that sea salt and kosher salt are still salt Maybe slightly less sodium, but not significantly less to the best of my knowledge.

[Libby]

OMG I'd prob be able to do it - go w/o salt - but there are times when I will go bonkers if I don't have it. Then I give in to microwave popcorn or plain chips etc. I try to cook w/o salt if possible and I definitely do not add it to my food but it's still there in my diet soda and foods I eat - crackers, cheese, canned soups etc.

This is a hard thing to do - from one salt person to another but you can do it! You've already gone 5 days Keep up the great work!

[bluedog]

Congratulations! Salt is kinda a cheap and easy way to cook-using spices, herbs, and real fresh ingredients is alot more creative and fun!