For cooking...salt is added only for taste. For any recipe - just leave out the salt. Also, check the ingredients on any store bought sauces/dressings/ marinades....unless they say salt-free.
In baking, salt is sometimes needed for the baked goods to come out right. Okay to leave out in standard cake and cookie recipes.
I leave out the salt in pie crusts.

I have checked the ingredents on anything I buy. I did not know practically everything has salt. I make his peanut butter now. I only cook chicken, turkey, and beef for him. Some chicken and turkey even have salt to plump them up.
I found the Mrs Dash salt free marinades and that has really helped.
Thanks for letting me know though that I can leave out the salt in baking. He loves bread but I haven't found a salt free and I don't know so will have to check on ingredients for bread if any have salt in them.
Thank you for taking the time to help me.
Lynn

I don't have any recipes, just wanted to say that if you don't mind canned vegetables, my niece found some saltfree peas, corn, green beans at Save a Lot. Also, I've bought no salt added tomato products at WalMart. I put myself on a low salt diet a few years ago. And, yes, it is amazing what all they add salt to. I still haven't found a low sodium version of cottage cheese. Good luck.

Shirley

did the doc mention potassium, also? that's a no no for me with my kidneys...here's a list of foods to avoid...and i havn't found any low or no sodium cottage cheese, either. i did check ricotta and it's salt free...i bought some yesterday and was going to try it for lunch today...

Apple
Apricot, fresh
Banana
Dates, dried
Grapes, green seedless
Orange Juice, fresh
Papaya
Peach
Pineapple, fresh
Prune Juice, unsweetened
Raisins
Strawberries, fresh
Asparagus, cooked
Artichoke
Brocolli
Cabbage, cooked
Celery, raw
Corn, on cob
Green Beans
Green Pepper
Kidney Beans, canned
Lettuce, iceburg
Lettuce, romaine
Onion
Peas, fresh cooked
Potato, baked with skin
Pumpkin, canned
Spinach, steamed
Sweet Potato
Tomato
Ice Cream
Milk, skim
Yogurt, lowfat
Bread, wheat
Brazil Nuts
Egg
Hamburger
Peanuts, roasted w/skin
Peanut Butter, natural
Rice, brown
Rice, white
Salmon, canned

Yeast bread is about the only place where you cannot leave out the salt. In yeast bread, the salt has the necessary function of controlling the yeast--it's not there just for flavor. That's why you'll probably have a hard time finding a bread without it.

In quickbreads (anything leavened with baking soda/powder; beaten egg whites; steam) the salt is just there for the flavor and can be left out safely.

I did wonder, when I read your post, as to WHY your husband is on a no-salt diet? If it's for high blood pressure, has his dr. established if he's really salt-sensitive or not? They generally give that instruction (cut out salt) across the board, but in reality, only a small percentage of the population is actually affected by it. I was diagnosed with high BP about 20 years ago. Was told to cut out salt (among other things) and did. Didn't make much difference in my BP and I was eventually put on meds--which have done a wonderful job of controlling my BP. I still kept away from salt, but after about 10 years, got really tired of eating bland foods, and since by then, I'd been reading how most folks aren't adversely affected by salt, decided to give it a try again. It made NO difference in my readings. Now, I use salt as liberally as I ever did before my diagnosis, and my last BP reading? Mind you, this was on a day when I'd been through a lot of stress before I got to my check up--was 116/72. So quite obviously, the salt isn't hurting a thing--for me.

Understand, I'm NOT saying your husband should ignore his dr's recommendation. Just that it's worth asking questions, and finding out if there really is a need for him to go totally salt-free. Most dr's do take the easy route and tell everyone to cut out salt--even though it's not really necessary in all cases.

Now, if he's suffering from a different health problem entirely, that's a different matter, of course.

Don't forget--lots of fresh herbs, citrus rind and juice will add 'safe', bright, fresh flavor to your foods.

Goodness! What's left?

Gayle

Curious why NO salt. Like several say they controlled their salt, but it did not help that much. For me I cannot cut out salt even with high blood pressure because I will pass out especially in the heat. My body needs it and the Dr said to try to cut back as much as I can.

The doctors were ready to put me on BP meds.. I asked to wait for diet changes to work.
I cut sodium intake to under 1800mg/day... and I don't need the meds.

To the OP -
READ ALL the labels and make informed choices.
Buy fresh as much as possible.
Spices are your friends. No need to have bland just because you are going salt-free.

I have eliminated added salt in my cooking and use flavours and spices instead. Some things do need salt like Azzalea mentioned to work.

I am very salt sensitive and I know if I eat something premade or prepackaged or chips or cheese I will retain water. I rarely drink pop although there is a sodium free carbonated water I like to drink. I think Nestle makes it.

Once you get rid of salt in your diet you don't miss it. Food does taste better without it. Then when you eat something that has salt in it you really notice it.

Good luck. Oh yeah, you can also eliminate some of the sodium in canned veggies by rinsing them before heating. You probably won't be able to eliminate all the sodium but you will get rid of a good amount. I don't usually eat canned veggies because I prefer fresh.

Anne

Mrs. Dash salt substitute is good too. I use that on chicken breast or pork chops and you never miss the salt. Fresh fruit and vegetables don't need salt (but I can't imagine eating corn-on-the-cob or tomatoes without it). Summer is a good time for fresh vegetables, peaches, watermelon, etc.

Fresh lemon juice is a nice seasoning for vegetables, instead of salt.

My husband has severe coronary disease, congestive heart failure, COPD and only about 20% of his heart muscle working.
Any salt can cause retention of fluid in his body. His heart cannot pump strong enough to get the fluid to the kidneys as normal.
Green vegetables have vitamin K, some more than others. As he is on blood thinners, he can't have vitamin K as it thickens the blood.
I always check everything I buy now to make certain no sodium. Would be nice if they had a "no sodium" or a low sodium area with the no sodium in it. I go through all the brands of that particular item looking for no sodium. I do this by my grocery list. it takes forever. Last time I was there 3 hours and my son-in-law stayed with my husband.
I buy fresh veggies and frozen if no sodium. Salt is also used as a preservative and is in a lot of the frozen veggies. I don't buy any canned veggies.
I appreciate all your help. I hope this helps explain our no salt situation.
Thanks
Lynn

DH and I tried the 6 week body makeover at one time...they advocate NO SALT. So people devised some unique recipes to replace things you wouldn't think of (i.e. catsup), and came up with some darn good ideas. I've attached a link, maybe that will help you. Good luck!

Vickey-MN

Here is a link that might be useful: 6 week body makeover recipes

Thank you for the link. Trying to figure out different recipes with beef and chicken and no salt has been a chore. With the other information and with this link, I can make him a variety now.
Thanks
Lynn

Here's a site, that might be helpful.

"Showing You How To Give Up Sodium Without Giving Up Your Life."

Here is a link that might be useful: no salt recipes

Check the library for No Salt Cookbooks.

{{!gwi}}

I use a lot of fresh garlic to flavour my chicken and beef. I would rather give up salt than garlic. Supposed to be good for the heart too.

I use a lot of fresh lemon and lime juice. Cooking with orange juice makes a nice sauce for meat and chicken.

If your husband likes potato chips you can slice a potato into really thin slices and microwave them on high. They are pretty good if you want chips and can't have the salt. I never add salt to my popcorn either.

You can make your own broths to make soups without using salt. Spend a little time to make some chicken stock or beef stock and freeze it for future use. You can make rice with it.

I am sure there would be some sodium in ocean fish so I don't know if your husband can eat it. You can buy fresh water fish like lake perch instead. I cook all my fish in the microwave with lemon juice and dill.

If we go back to the way most of our Grandparents ate - all homemade foods - cooking wouldn't be such a chore. Eat fresh, made from scratch foods.

If you need help with meals talk to a dietician. They may be able to put you in touch with a company that sells frozen premade dinners for people with health issues - no sodium. I ordered premade frozen dinners through our hospital for my Mom because of health issues and the meals came from Campbells. They were good to have on hand in the freezer for at least one meal a day.

Good luck - natural flavours will be your best friend.

Also check out your local health food store. I am sure they would have products that have no sodium.

Anne

Also go on line to Cooks.com and the food channel. they have some good receipes. I have several list of mixed spices you can make up yourself and if you want any of this information, email me and I can send them either on the internet, or will copy them and send them to you. Go to your library and look in the cooking section for salt free receipes. DO NOT use soy bean products and they are high in salt--don't know why but are. I also have some receipes for bar-b-ques that are salt free. Just let me know.
Marie

Thank you for the suggestions. I'm afraid spending time at the library is not an option. He cannot be left by himself. When I do have someone to stay with him, I barely have time to run to the bank, post office, and get groceries.
I'll check out te different sites and find some new recipes. Marie, he's always loved BBQ so would appreciate those recipes. Spices are limited as so many have salt but I did find some with no salt he likes.
I always ask him what sounds good and suggest some things. I fix it, he takes a couple of bites and gives it to the dogs. When I ask him if he didn't like it, he says he did but the dogs wanted some too. The dementia really is a problem sometimes. If I stay by him and make sure he eats, he doesn't like that at all. He loves ice cream but it has salt. He hates sherbert or sorbet.
With all your help, I know I'll find some new things for him. I'll check into the freshwater fish too. He loves lobster but that is a definite no no.
Thank you all so much.
Lynn