As previously mentioned any recipe can be made without added salt but, you do have a challenge. As people age they tend not to taste foods as they once did. Then they make up for it by salting the food. You need to start with foods where you can 'kick it up a notch'. Things like chili with the hot peppers and onions. Saute fresh veggies and then deglaze with white wine making sure the water and alcohol are completely evaporated. When you make chicken soup you would make the broth of course (No canned! Not even "low sodium"), but add lemon rind. The oils bring out the flavor of the meat and veggies. Consider buying organic fresh foods that have more taste than factory farmed foods. So many people nowdays salt fruits like watermelon and cantaloupe because they have no flavor. Introduce him to new veggie and fruits that he has never had before so he has no "memory" of what they taste like. Try using snowpeas instead of the common peas for instance. Depending on how strict his diet must be, you may be able to buy low sodium versions of some items he loves. You can get things like soy sauce in a low sodium version. That way he can 'taper down' with some dishes until he can love eating them with no sodium at all. They key is using quality ingredients. Making French style dressing using balsamic vinegar and olive oil and then customizing with fresh garlic, dried red peppers, dill, and other things, beats out those bottled dressings. Use goat yogourt as a base for creamy dressing. Canned condensed soups at the store have so much filler in them - usually flour. That is why they salt them up. Making you own soups with lots of flavorful veggies you will wonder why you ever bought canned soups in the first place. Condiments and garnishes are going to be hard to substitute with no sodium version. Unsalted butter for instance tastes just awful on its own on top of mashed potatoes. It just gives one a greasy mouth feel. Try making the mashed potatoes adding garlic or using yogourt, sour cream or buttermilk to make them flavorful. Stir in some herbs too. So many people buy canned and jarred items loaded with salt and HFCS they themselves for got how foods are suppose to taste. Once you get to making your own sauces and salsas you will want to make them in huge batches for the whole family. It he is one who is used to salting meats try marinad or meat rubs. Make your own from dried spices. By making your own salt free dishes from raw basic ingredients you will notice a drop in your grocery bills too. Ka-ching!

Most publications and on-line information say to use 25% less agave nectar than sugar called for (3/4 c. agave nectar for each 1 c. sugar), but I've found I can use much less than that in most cases. It depends on other ingredients and what part (food science) the sweetener plays in the type of food. If there are sweet ingredients or spices, you can often use less agave nectar than 25%. In this wholegrain banana bread recipe - I use 1/4 c. agave nectar. BANANA-POPPY SEED BREAD 1 c. mashed banana 1/4 c. agave nectar (OR 1/2 c. sugar) 1/2 c. milk (I use homemade kefir) 3 T. vegetable oil 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 c. all-purpose flour (I use wholegrain spelt flour) 1 c. whole wheat flour 2 t. baking powder 2 T. poppy seeds (I substitute whole amaranth for an additional whole grain that is high in protein. They look like golden poppy seeds in the bread.) 1/2 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt 1/2 t. cinnamon vegetable cooking spray Combine the bananas and agave nectar (or sugar) in a small bowl; stir well. Let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk, oil, and egg; set the mixture aside. Combine flours and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Make a well in center of mixture; add banana mixture to dry ingredients, stirring until moistened. Spoon into 8-1/2x4-1/2x3-inch loaf pan (NOT a 9x5-inch pan usually used for quick breads) coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool on a rack. Grainlady Note: I like to bake quick breads in a Danish Loaf pan (aka Tea Loaf Pan - see link below). It's longer and more narrow (12" x 4" x 2 1/2" pan holds the equivalent of a 9" x 5" loaf pan) with playing-card sized servings. It's easier to slice very thin slices from this type pan - important when control portion sizes. Plus, it bakes 25% faster than a 9x5 pan. -------------------- WACKY CAKE (a frosting-free snack cake) 1-1/2 c. whole wheat flour (soft wheat, or whole wheat pastry flour OR 1-1/2 c. + 2 T. spelt flour) 1 t. soda 1/2 t. salt 3 T. cocoa powder (can eliminate) 1 T. vinegar 2 t. vanilla 5 T. butter, melted 2/3 c. agave nectar 1/3 c. cold water Mix ingredients in an 8-inch square pan in this order: -Combine all dry ingredients and mix well. -Make 3 holes evenly spaced apart in dry ingredients. -In first hole, put vinegar. In second hole, the vanilla. In third hole, melted butter. Mix water and agave nectar together and pour over all the cake ingredients. Stir well, using a dinner fork or spatula (be sure no dry ingredients remain in corners). Bake at 325°F for 30-35 minutes. One serving - 1/16 of cake (cut the cake into 16 pieces). For spice cake: Omit the cocoa and add 1/2 t. Penzeys Cake Spice (www.penzeys.com). A mixture of: China cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves. -------------------------------- Other agave nectar goodies (my original recipes): COCONUT ALMOND CANDY Melt: 2 T. butter in a frying pan Add: 1/2 c. long-shred UNsweetened coconut 1/2 c. chopped raw almonds Over medium heat, cook until the ingredients begin to brown. CAUTION - this will burn easily. Remove from heat. Add: 2-3 T. agave nectar 1 t. almond flavoring Stir well. Place in small paper candy cups. (I use a 100 size portion scoop for this - approx. 1 teaspoon.) Cool in a refrigerator at least 1/2 hour to set. Yield: approx. 20 pieces. PROTEIN PEANUT BUTTER BALLS 1/2 c. whey powder (vanilla flavor) 1/2 c. peanut butter 2 T. agave nectar 1 t. vanilla or almond flavoring Mix thoroughly with a dinner fork. *If desired, add 1/2 to 3/4 c. crisp wholegrain rice cereal to the dough. Roll into small (3/4 to 1-inch) balls. *Toppings - Melt 1/2 c. chocolate chips and drizzle over the top. You can also dip the balls in a little agave nectar and then dip in chopped roasted almonds or toasted unsweetened coconut. ---------------------- VANILLA ICE CREAM 4 oz. EGG BEATERS (DO NOT substitute raw eggs) 1/4 c. agave nectar 1 c. Half & Half 2 c. cream 1-1/2 t. vanilla In a 4-cup measuring cup or equal-sized bowl, combine Egg Beaters, agave nectar and vanilla and stir to mix. Add cream and half and half. Chill thoroughly in the freezer (just until ice crystals start to form on the edge. Process in an ice cream maker of choice AGAVE NECTAR CHOCOLATE SYRUP 1/4 c. Hershey's Cocoa Powder 1/2 c. agave nectar 1/2 c. cold water Mix, with a whisk (it takes a bit of mixing to get it smooth). Store in refrigerator. Serving: 1/2 c. ice cream and 1 T. cocolate syrup -Grainlady

I don't make my own hummus, we have a grocer here (Wegman's) that makes great hummus so I buy theirs. I know Sabre makes a huge variety, but I don't think it would be hard to make your own, if you can get all the ingredients. Then you can add seasonings that you and your husband like. I like the avocado hummus and the spinach and artichoke hummus on my sandwich. Try some middle eastern or kosher markets, they should have some good stuff, too. They might have a good selection of low fat/low salt foods too, since heart disease and high blood pressure afflict all of us! I found some great low fat/low sodium hot dogs at the kosher grocer here in Baltimore. Good luck

Also you can use COOL WHIP FREE which is very good!