3 Healthy Tips to Tame A Salt Craving

3 Healthy Tips to Tame A Salt Craving

Last week’s blog offered 3 healthy, nutrient rich alternatives to help those of you with a mad sugar addiction kick the habit to the curb.  I don’t like to leave anyone out, and there is another segment of the population in need of assistance assistance.  This week the “Substitute Queen” is here to offer 3 easy solutions to satisfy any salt craving, keeping your hand out of the bag of potato chips or reaching for the salt shaker. 

1) Skip the CHIPS and reach for NORI.

Potato & Corn Chips, no matter how “Organic” or “all- natural” they are, are doing very little beyond satisfying your well programmed brain & manipulated taste buds, and causing more inflammation than good.  Skip them completely, and instead reach for Nori.  Nori is a power-packed, nutritionally dense food loaded with protein, iron, iodine, and more!  It can be found in snack packs or in sheet form and is incredibly satisfying.  Be sure to read the ingredients to make sure it has not been fried in canola or soybean oil.  I prefer the larger sheets because they double as a snack and a fun addition to any meal.  Crumble it up and add it to any main dish, or use it as a wrap and make it an interactive dinner.  It has great flavor and texture, and is a ton of fun!

2) Toss the bag of microwave popcorn and reach for a stalk of CELERY.

Celery has a bad reputation, probably because when we were young our parents tried to get us to eat instead of junk food.  It’s time to give it another try.  Fresh out of the fridge, celery is incredibly satisfying – cold, crunchy, juicy, and it explodes in your mouth.  It actually a very fun food to enjoy, and guilt free!  Low in calories, full of fiber, and packed with water, it is both hydrating and filling.  It also helps reduce inflammation and is loaded with anti-oxidants.  TIP: try not to cut it until you are ready to eat it.  This ensures maximum nutritional intake!

For those of you that are dippers, celery is awesome with a sliver of avocado, a scoop of fresh almond butter or tahini, or dipped in organic hummus (Read the label to avoid mystery ingredients like Guar Gum and Xantham Gum.  Pretty sure I have no idea what these are!).

3) Put down the salt shaker and add SEEDS, SEEDS, and MORE SEEDS.

Seeds are possibly one of Nature’s most perfect creations and often overlooked.  Available in multiple varieties, the are one of the most vibrant, living foods available, easily accessible, and packed with nutrition.  Essential amino acids, high in protein, essential fatty acids in the right combination…  need I go on?

Actually yes, because not only are they GOOD for you, they taste awesome, are incredibly filling, and add a little zest to any eating experience.  Feel like a snack?  Reach for a handful of hemp seeds, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.  You can also eat a spoonful of sesame seeds for tons of flavor and lots of crunch.  Warning, you will feel like a kid when you do this!

But wait!  These tasty little bits also enhance any meal.  Add them to a salad, sprinkle them on a main dish, or make them into a dip or paste.  This will up the flavor factor and make the texture more interesting.  Just be mindful to eat them raw and UNSALTED (Don’t worry, they will still be tasty and delicious!).

So there you have it, way more than three options to overcome the salt craving, incorporate  more nutrition, and to increase the fun and “interesting” factor in eating.  Remember, eating is an experience, it is meant to nourish not only the body, but also the soul.  Why not let every aspect of it be both enjoyable and also enhance your sense of well being!!