Add Flavor to a Low-Sodium Diet

People who start a low-salt (low-sodium) diet may well find that food tastes less appealing at first. Here are some ways to improve the taste of a low-salt diet:

• Substitute other spices for the salt. Pepper and garlic can be great alternatives. Check your spice rack and identify spices that have salt in them such as onion salt, garlic salt and celery salts, and replace them with either fresh onion or onion flakes, minced garlic or garlic powder and fresh celery or celery seeds. You also can add flavor to dishes with unsalted fat free broths, bouillons or soups.
• Choose low-salt or unsalted products. Many foods come in low salt or unsalted versions. Choose fresh, frozen or canned food items without added salts. Unsalted broths are so good for adding flavor without sodium. You can use low-sodium soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce. Substitute unsalted meat, fish or poultry for ham or bacon in recipes, providing flavor without the salt.
• Use a variety of food textures. Adding a variety of colors and textures to your foods makes meals more appealing.
• Eat fresh foods. Fresh, crispy vegetables take minimal effort to prepare and provide a tasty and visually appealing contrast to baked foods.

Give yourself some time to adjust to low-salt food. The taste of the food, which may have been masked by the salt, will come through.