maxine in ri > wrote:

> My Mom and sister are both on low-salt diets. When I cook for them, I
> try to use seasonings that will give the food the "sparkle" that salt
> does. Sis is so traditional she doesn't like some of my variations,
> but Mom seems to enjoy them, so I persevere.

> I've been using cumin lately. It seems to work well on it's own
> without salt. I've used lemon juice and crystals, and
> sometimes curry or small amounts of various hot peppers. (Mom
> is not a spicy food person.)

> What do others use in place of salt?

There is nothing that replaces salt. Salt receptors are in your
taste buds and nothing else can simulate a salty flavor. All
you can do is quit adding salt to food and, within a short time,
you learn to no longer expect it. The key is to eat NOTHING with
significant salt; otherwise you will go back to expecting/wanting it.

I think if you do this for awhile, you can then go back to
sometimes eating salty food and not lose the psychological
training that allows you to enjoy unsalted food.

Steve
>
>I have no medical reason to watch my salt intake but still I use very
>minimal salt in dishes and never put a salt shaker out just for me and
>only if someone asks. I find that sour negates the desire for salt
>for me... I like different vinegars. And I use fresh herbs too. I
>don't notice the salt is missing from a vinaigrette or a marinade.
>But this is not to say that I don't enjoy some salty foods too, like
>pickles, olives, coldcuts, canned fish, etc., but I don't eat those
>very often. I think people miss not having salt much more just
>because they're told to cut back. And most of the salt folks injest
>they get from processed foods... cook more meals from scratch and shy
>away from restaurants and you'll automatically cut your salt intake
>way down.
>
>Also there are condiments that you can easily prepare yourself and
>leave out the salt, I often prepare my own mustards, and horseradish.
>I promise that if you schmear a little hot oriental mustard on a slab
>of meat/fish/poultry you'll never miss the salt... blend your rmustard
>with some horseradish, serve with no salt added meat loaf and you'll
>not think about salt.
>
>Sheldon
>