7 easy ways to cut the salt out of your diet

You don’t need to be addicted to salt. Try these salt-reduction strategies, and within a week or two, you won’t miss it at all

1 / 7
cooking

Don’t include salt in recipes

Omit salt from recipes or automatically reduce sodium by 25 percent by measuring out the same amount of coarse salt instead; the coarse granules of these salts don’t pack as tightly into a measuring spoon.

2 / 7
salt shaker

Put the salt shaker away

Take the salt shaker off your table. If it’s not there, you may not think about adding salt to your meal.

3 / 7
Nutrition: Brighten your kitchen-and cooking-with fresh herbs

Use herbs instead

Use other flavourings, such as herbs and spices, lemon or mustard to flavour your foods. Use spices such as coriander, caraway and fennel seeds to add flavour to fish dishes and cooked vegetables.

4 / 7
can of black beans

Avoid products with added salt

Choose the “no added sugar or salt” varieties of canned foods such as kidney beans, chickpeas and sweet corn. If you can’t find beans packed in water, rinse them thoroughly before using them to remove some of the salt.

5 / 7
soup_268.jpg

Avoid processed foods

Processed foods, such as canned soups, often contain very high levels of salt. Invest in a blender or processor so that you can make your own.

6 / 7
pretzels

Try reduced-sodium snacks

Give snacks like unsalted or reduced-sodium pretzels, chips, peanuts and condiments a try.

7 / 7
lemons

Use lemons

Instead of adding salt, give cooked vegetables a bit of a lift by adding the zest (grated rind) and juice of a lemon.

Related:
3 reasons to eat less salt
Are you consuming too much salt?
11 ways to use fresh herbs

Newsletter Unit