Lower-sodium foods for camping, got any ideas?

[Spirit Deer]

I don't mind if you don't stop.  The information might be helpful for others.

I don't usually add salt to recipes either.  I always figure if people want to add it to their own servings, they can add it later.

[Camping Queen]

If you like to do ethnic cooking, or are looking for salt-free spice mixes that can add flavor without the sodium, check out Penzey's.  They have lots of individual spices, as well as a large variety of spice mixes, that can add a wide variety of flavor to your cooking options.  Beats having to have each component on hand and then figuring out the proportion you need.

_{***Moderator edit to make clicky link.***}

[dcj070454]

I spent much time in the Far East and high sodium foods are the norm.  Having also traveled in the southeastern US where frying with lard is also the norm, I probably should be pushing up daisies.  Bottom line I just can't seem to give up my salt intake.

 

[Spirit Deer]

Thanks, Jane.  I'll look that site over.  I already make a lot of my own salt-free spice and herb mixes.  It's pretty easy to find recipes for them online, or I just throw together some stuff that sounds good without a recipe.

I usually do pretty well at not having overly salty foods by not using much processed foods at home.  That's a lot harder when we're on a trip and convenience foods are just too convenient.  Sometimes we end up eating crappy processed food just because it's easier.

[TRMA18]

Id die from starvation. Give me a water pill anyday

[Spirit Deer]

It's not as bad as it sounds!  And once you're not used to eating all that salt, you sure don't miss it, and in fact, the salty stuff doesn't taste that good anyway.  Food manufacturers use salt a lot to cover up the fact their food doesn't taste very fresh and doesn't have much flavor except salt.  Once you start cooking with real flavors, you realize what you've been missing!

It's just harder to cook from scratch and make all the good stuff when traveling, and that's where I'm always looking for new ideas.

[Baytoven]

I'm on a low salt diet too.  It's harder to adhere to when we're traveling because we're more likely to use convenience and processed/prepared foods.  We're also more likely to eat at restaurants and drink soda, also loaded with salt.  (sigh)

I've managed to reduce the sodium of some of our camping recipes by using no salt added canned ingredients.  I can find NSA tomato products and NSA veggies at grocery stores, as well as NSA ketchup and low salt canned tuna.  I've bought grocery store brand NSA peanut butter and NS taco shells.  I usually have to visit Whole Foods for NSA canned beans and unsalted potato/tortilla chips.  I buy a few hard-to-find things from http://healthyheartmarket.com/

It is hard to avoid sodium.  Food manufacturers load it into their food.  Salt is cheap and aids preservation, so they don't have to use more expensive flavor.  One disappointment I found in looking for alternatives was that 'organic' does not mean low sodium. 

I've seen RealSalt recommended before, but it's not enough of a reduction in salt to be beneficial for me.  If I use salt (can't seem to skip it altogether when making mashed potatoes) I use half as much, and even that is mixed 50/50 with potassium substitute.

Have you considered asking your doctor for recommendations?  The fluid retention makes me think of kidney problems or maybe electrolyte imbalance.

[Spirit Deer]

I'm not really on a low-salt diet, but you have my sympathy on that.  I think adhering to a truly low-salt diet is one of the most difficult food plans to stick with, much harder than low-calorie, low-carb, or low-anything-else.  My goal isn't to totally eliminate salt, just keep it to a manageable level where it's not making me retain so much fluid that I gain four pounds of water weight on a long weekend.

I'm not overly sensitive to salt, it's just when I get too much of it that it becomes somewhat of a problem, like when we're traveling and relying heavily on convenience foods.  My health is fine.  Mostly, I just hate that salt aftertaste and the waking up in the night with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth because too much salt has sucked all the moisture out of my body to wherever the excess salt takes it.  Ew.  And my hands swelling up so my rings don't fit.  But I can tolerate a certain level okay, just have to avoid the obviously salty things like chips and lunch meats, or severely limit them, or mix them with other ingredients to cut the amount of salt per serving.  It's just been frustrating not being able to come up with alternatives that travel well, taste good, and don't have too much salt, but this has been a banner week for me because I'm suddenly finding all sorts of recipes and new ideas to help me in my endless quest.

Funny you should mention tortilla chips.  I dragged out a microwave chip maker to donate this morning, and noticed instructions for making tortilla chips from corn tortillas.  Naturally, I had to give that a try.  I always have low expectations for this kind of gadget but they're actually pretty good!  And very low in both fat and sodium, win-win.  So I'll be able to make up batches of those to take camping.  I've made tortilla chips in the stove oven before but always seem to burn them.  Much easier in the micro!  The chip maker is supposed to be for potato chips so I plan to give those a try, too.  I've also seen ideas for apple chips, sweet potato chips, and other veggie chips, so will be doing some experimenting with that stuff in the future.  I love crunchy food so this is a big plus for me.  I think if I spray tortillas with cooking spray (I know) so spices will stick, then I can add some different flavors like chili powder, too, and make a variety of flavors that are still low in fat and salt.

[Baytoven]

Perhaps I should have said I'm supposed to be on a reduced sodium diet.  I have some friends whose children are on truly low salt diets.  That's hard.  I don't have any symptoms when I stray, so I don't stress over it.