SODIUM-RESTRICTED DIETS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASES: PREPARATION OF FOOD
The booklets prepared by the American Heart Association contain menu suggestions and helpful hints for the preparation of food as well as guides for eating away from home.
Patients who have always used much salt at the table are likely to complain bitterly about the flat taste of the food. Others, who prefer foods only lightly salted, find the diet to be more tolerable. In time most patients find that they can adjust to the restriction of sodium by learning to substitute other flavorings. Salt substitutes are useful to some. Because these compounds may be harmful to patients with damaged kidneys, they should be used only with a physician’s prescription.
Many flavoring extracts, spices, and herbs may be used to lend interest to the diet. Usually a dash of spices or a small pinch of herbs is sufficient for most family-size recipes. The flavor should be delicate and subtle rather than strong and overpowering. Meats may be marinated in wine, vinegar, low-sodium French dressing, or sprinkled with lemon juice before cooking. A few suggestions for flavor combinations are provided below.
Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs
Beef: bay leaf, lemon juice, marjoram, dry mustard, mushrooms, nutmeg, onion, green pepper, pepper, sage, thyme; currant or grape jelly
Chicken or turkey: basil, bay leaf, lemon juice, marjoram, onion, pepper, rosemary, sage, sesame seeds, thyme; cranberry sauce
Lamb: curry, garlic, mint, onion, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme; mint jelly, broiled pineapple
Pork: garlic, lemon juice, marjoram, sage; applesauce, spiced apples, cranberries
Veal: bay leaf, curry, dill seed, ginger, marjoram, oregano, summer savory; currant jelly; broiled apricots or peaches
Fish: bay leaf, curry, dill, garlic, lemon juice, mushrooms, mustard, onion, paprika, pepper
Eggs: basil, chives, curry, mustard, parsley, green pepper, rosemary, diced tomato
Vegetables
Add a dash of sugar while cooking vegetables to bring out flavor.
Asparagus: lemon juice, caraway; unsalted chopped nuts
Green beans: dill, lemon, marjoram, nutmeg, onion, rosemary; slivered almonds
Broccoli: lemon juice, oregano, tarragon
Corn: chives, parsley, green pepper, pimento, tomato
Peas: mint, mushroom, onion, parsley, green pepper
Potatoes: chives, mace, onion, parsley, green pepper
Squash: basil, ginger, mace, onion, oregano
Sweet potatoes: cinnamon, nutmeg; brown sugar
Tomatoes: basil, marjoram, oregano, parsley, sage
Homemade quick breads, biscuits, and muffins may be made by using low-sodium baking powder instead of regular baking powder. For each teaspoon of regular baking powder, it is necessary to use 1 1/2 teaspoons low-sodium baking powder. The salt specified in the recipe should be omitted.
Homemade bread, waffles, and rolls may be made by using yeast and omitting the salt from the recipe. The yeast dough may be rolled out, spread with unsalted butter, and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon for delicious cinnamon rolls.
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GENERAL HEALTH
