December 20, 2017
Salt-Free Holiday Cooking | Seasoning with Spices
The holidays can be tough if you're trying to cut back on your sodium intake. There are so many savory dishes, soups, and sauces ready to tempt you around every corner! Luckily there are plenty of ways to season your favorite holiday dishes to add a lot of delicious flavors without the salt.
Top 6 Tips for Salt-Free Seasoning, and Reducing Sodium and Sugar during the Holidays
Cut the condiments.
Pre-packaged condiments (such as mustard, pasta sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, etc.) can contain a lot of added salt and sugar. Avoid using them whenever possible, or try making your own homemade versions so that you can control how much sodium and sugar the condiments contain. You can even give leftovers away in glass bottles as gifts for your guests to take home!
Avoid alcoholic drinks.
Wait, no egg nog? No champagne? That's right! When you cut back your alcohol consumption, you'll be less likely to munch on salty snacks, and less likely to over-season your foods. Try filling a champagne glass with soda water and a packet of True Orange instead for a festive treat without the booze.
Substitute with fresh herbs.
Using a combination of fresh and full flavors will please your palate without the need for salt. These are some great tips for how to incorporate fresh herbs into your meals, and you may be surprised how easy they are to use when cooking.
Do not substitute with sugar!
Often when we tip the scales one way, something else gets thrown off balance. When working towards reducing sodium, often we can turn to another strong and satisfying flavor: sugar. However this is not a healthy replacement, and sugar can do just as much damage when we consume high amounts. Be aware that you aren't just turning down gravy to reach for the cookie jar instead.
Do an ingredient check.
Before you start pouring that chicken stock into your soup, read the label one more time. During the rush of the holiday season there's a chance that you didn't thoroughly check the labels of everything that was grabbed at the store. If the sodium is too high, dilute it half and half with water.
Use True Citrus salt-free seasonings.
We make natural sodium-free seasoning blends that bring out the flavors of food without salt. These seasonings are made with simple, clean ingredients and contain no preservatives, gluten, or artificial colors or flavors. They are great even just sprinkled on top of pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables - no sauce needed.
If you must use salt, wait until the meal is finished and plated to sprinkle a small amount on top. You will consume significantly less sodium, but still taste the full flavor.