Kitchen

[Nightowlz]

I don't like to go out to eat for that reason. Every time we do it's really salty. They don't have to pour the whole salt shaker on the food to give it flavor. Not to mention it generally does not taste good. I use Himalayan salt at home when I use salt. Most food does not need it. I use a lot of other spices.

[ChynnaBlue]

On 1/6/2014 luvpoos said:

I enjoy eating out on occasion but lately I have notice so much salt in the entrees. It could be because I have cut way back on salt in my cooking. Some places will note the fat calories but not the sodium which is a big issue for some people like my husband. I would like to be able to ask, hold the salt and use the salt shaker as needed. Maybe it's just me.

So do! The worst thing they can do is tell you that they're not able to do that, but many places will avoid adding more salt if you ask. I don't use a lot of salt and notice that it really depends on the place and the night. My office cafeteria has soup every day. I often notice that some days day the soup will be way too salty and I think someone must complain, because the next day the soup will be, without fail, entirely bland. I always get a taster sample, first.

If I notice that a place frequently uses too much salt, sauce, mayo, whatever, I'll ask for them to go light on it or put it on the side. If they can't, I'll order another dish or find another place to eat. I eat in one place where they drown every salad in dressing unless I ask for it on the side and another that will give you a sandwich with mayo squirting out the sides unless you ask them to go light or include it on the side. I love Thai and Indian food, but often ask them to tone down the spices in some dishes because I can't handle too much. They're usually very accommodating. I always ask people to hold the whipped cream if I order cake or pie and I've even had some servers offer to scrape off any whipped cream that comes on pre-made desserts. (I tell them that's okay, I just don't want more added.. then I scrape it off myself.)

Don't be afraid to ask them to alter something. As long as you're pleasant about the request, they're usually happy to help where they can. (They obviously can't easily remove salt from your bowl of soup.) If they're not happy to alter your order for you, find a place that will.

[Lynneuk]

Every time we eat out then the next day I feel bloated and thirsty all day.

I know it is all the sodium in the food even though I try to order mainly a protein with veggies or salad.

At home I use salt very sparingly and try to flavor with herbs and spices or ground black pepper for the most part.

[luvdoodles]

On 1/6/2014 GoodStuff said:

I'm always irked by people who condemn restaurant eating across the board. There are many kinds of restaurants and a huge trend nowadays towards locally grown/sourced, healthy entrees and ingredients. If healthy, fresh, even organic food is what you want, you can almost certainly find food establishments that can provide it! The fat/sodium festival at Captain D's, Olive Garden, Red Lobster and many other chains is NOT your only choice.

I don't think I condemned restaurant eating across the board. Please don't put words in my mouth. Can't even remember the last time we ate in a chain food restaurant. We have some very nice quaint places around here, but maybe I just notice it more because we are use to having less salt and more spices. Sorry I irked you.

[sidsmom]

Well, I say it....I'll condemn restaurant eating across the board. Too much salt. Even the foodie's foodies will add salt when cooking....something we don't need. We only need a TEASPOON on sodium for a healthy diet. Unless you're talking about a juice bar, I don't know of ANY eating establishments that doesn't add salt to their food.

[Trix]

All restaurants use salt whether it's a local dive, fast food, national sit down chain, or 5-star Michelin. You can ask for a salt free serving of your plate at any restaurant, but you will have a long wait for your meal. You can also ask for salt free at McDonald's (and other fast food places) if you get out of your car and walk inside to the counter. I haven't had a salted french fry since 1962 when my mother took salt out of our family meals.

I know I've had salt in fine restaurants because I didn't always have the nerve to ask for special treatment for fear of offending the chef. However, once I got my head to grasp that if I could ask Mickey D to hold the salt then I could ask Emerils to do the same.

[sidsmom]

luvpoos: I, too, have begun the battle of sodium reduction. BoyOhBoy, that's my drug of choice! It's EVERYWHERE...that's why I subscribe to a low fat, low sodium, whole foods way of eating a la McDougall Diet. It's a slippery slope, though..feel good when you're on the down side, huh? As for restaurants, they'll add it while cooking & you won't taste it even when plated.

[Tigriss]

Salt is like fat; it intensifies the flavors making food appear to taste better than it probably is. Sugar is another food enhancer that we over use. I've cut back on all three because salt is bad given my family history, my tummy doesn't like fat/grease, and sugar gives me a headache plus my eyesight improved when I detoxed for sugar and caffeine cold turkey. I was not nice for 2 weeks, but I got through it without the stuff. Now both can give me a bad headache if I have more than what is really a serving in one sitting, so candy and sugary drinks is a no no.