This is not as easy as you may think.  As a “salt-a-holic” I find it very difficult to reduce the salt in my food, and still enjoy eating.  Each year, I deliberately change my eating habits by cutting out additional salt added at the table. 

I find food to be very bland and tasteless, but, when I stick to my rule, I find that after a few weeks (yes, a few weeks), my taste for food actually changes. It takes about 21 days to create a new habit; that includes changing the tastes that we have acquired.

The enjoyment of food is a learned behavior. We enjoy food the way our parents taught us.  We add salt and sugar to taste, because it was added to our food when we were growing up.  I find myself doing this with my own son, and have to stop myself so that he learns better habits.

There are many flavor enhancers that are available everywhere you go. The amount of flavor enhancers that are available can be overwhelming.  Try them. Experiment with them.  This is the time to get creative with yourself, especially if you must reduce your salt intake, and a great time to set an example for your children or grand children.

Try all the seasonings that you would normally use, in the “salt-free” version. Experiment with seasoning with fruit, like lemon, orange and lime. Mix all three to flavor chicken and add a citrus flavor.  You can even use these on fish!

If you have any recipes that you would like to submit using your favorite “salt-free” seasonings, write to me, and we can post them for all our readers. You may write to me at teresaulrich@yahoo.com .