Recipe/meal suggestion - dietary issues

[Amethyst]

I need to make some meals for a new mother who pre-pregnancy needed to avoid dairy. Now she has been put on salt-restricted (1 tsp/day) and fluid restrictions. 
 

She is not vegetarian but I think avoids red meat. All my best meals have cheese, but even my best vegan meal uses canned beans. I guess I can make that with canned no salt beans and no slat tomato sauce. I feel like my normally delicious meal will end up very bland. 
 

Any ideas for low salt, no dairy meals?
 

 

[Katy]

Maybe a kale & potato soup with black beans instead of sausage. No salt broth. Costco has a big container of no-salt seasoning that’s really good. 

This is a really good dairy free “cheese” sauce that would be good with macaroni or even as a broccoli cheese soup, but it doesn’t keep super well so I would make it & bring it over hot if possible. 

 

[Drama Llama]

5 minutes ago, Katy said:

Maybe a kale & potato soup with black beans instead of sausage. No salt broth. Costco has a big container of no-salt seasoning that’s really good. 

This is a really good dairy free “cheese” sauce that would be good with macaroni or even as a broccoli cheese soup, but it doesn’t keep super well so I would make it & bring it over hot if possible. 

 

I wouldn't do soup for someone on fluid restriction.  

[regentrude]

In this heat: salads and grain bowls. Basic formula Grain + veggies + herbs + dressing. Nuts or seeds for added calories.

Nicoise: potatoes, green beans, hardboiled eggs, tuna (omit if too much salt), tomato

Tabouleh: couscous, cucumber, tomato, parsley. Lemon vinaigrette.

Curried quinoa salad: quinoa, cucumber, apple, bell pepper, dried cranberries,  nuts

Spicy Moroccan carrot salad: carrots, spices 

Raw zucchini salad with thyme and walnuts

There are a variety of vegan cheeses out there, but they may have too much salt, so probably not good. 

Edited July 5 by regentrude

[KungFuPanda]

What about a coconut curry?

[Drama Llama]

Do you know if she's going to eat it right away?

If it was something like a meal train, where you have an assigned day and know she'll eat it that day, I might make fish tacos or taco bowls.  I think it's easier to omit the salt in somewhat spicy things, and you could do guacamole with veggies instead of chips to cool down after, and maybe a fruit salad for dessert.

If you don't know if she's going to be eating it the same day, I wouldn't do fish.  

[prairiewindmomma]

The amount of sodium in a teaspoon of salt is 2300mg….which is more than the 1500mg one is typically recommended when on sodium and fluid restrictions….

4 oz of chicken is usually about 80mg of sodium….

So…. Salad greens + 4 oz grilled chicken + blueberries + strawberries + raw cashews + homemade salad dressing or a low sodium viniagrette

Rice made with cilantro and lime juice, grilled chicken, rinsed no-salt black beans, elote, avocado slices

Apple bok choy salad (epicurious has a good recipe) + grilled chicken breast

blackened salmon tacos with a mango/avocado or other fresh salsa you make

Basically….because you cant do sodium you need to raise flavor complexity and make sure you have good fats for satiety

A lot of Indian recipes work well also—they are easy to work around as no dairy/low sodium

 

 

 

[Katy]

1 hour ago, Drama Llama said:

I wouldn't do soup for someone on fluid restriction.  

Whoops, missed the fluid part

[City Mouse]

Dash brand (used to be Mrs Dash) seasoning blends are salt free and come in a variety of flavors. The Garlic and herb is my go to right now, but like all I have tried. I just looked on the website and saw some flavors that I haven’t seen in person yet, but I will be looking.  

[prairiewindmomma]

Just now, City Mouse said:

Dash brand (used to be Mrs Dash) seasoning blends are salt free and come in a variety of flavors. The Garlic and herb is my go to right now, but like all I have tried. I just looked on the website and saw some flavors that I haven’t seen in person yet, but I will be looking.  

Their Southwest Chipotle blend is really good too. I use it when I make black beans in the instant pot every week.

[Laura Corin]

7 hours ago, Amethyst said:

I need to make some meals for a new mother who pre-pregnancy needed to avoid dairy. Now she has been put on salt-restricted (1 tsp/day) and fluid restrictions. 
 

She is not vegetarian but I think avoids red meat. All my best meals have cheese, but even my best vegan meal uses canned beans. I guess I can make that with canned no salt beans and no slat tomato sauce. I feel like my normally delicious meal will end up very bland. 
 

Any ideas for low salt, no dairy meals?
 

 

I would increase the herbs and spices  - no-salt doesn't have to be bland.

[HomeAgain]

One thing with spices is to toast them up a bit. 

She may like a variation of one of our favorites: spiced rice (or couscous) with maple glazed carrots, roasted red onion, and a lemon/olive oil infused yogurt sauce.  We use a homemade shwarma seasoning for the grain with first adding unsalted butter, minced garlic, and turmeric to the pan, and then the seasoning, to get the aromatics going, then the water and grains.  The carrots and onions can be roasted at the same time, with the maple syrup added to the carrots after with a touch of cinnamon, or you can pan cook the carrots in a bit of olive oil, adding the syrup at the last part of cooking.  Alternatively, you can substitute sweet potato cubes.

I like to top with fresh cilantro or something with a bit of bite, like jalepeno, but dh and ds like it just fine without. Adding: cucumber chopped small with a little bit of lemon and olive oil can take the place of the yogurt.  Still refreshing and a bit of acid to balance it out.

Edited July 5 by HomeAgain

[Emba]

i have found that pork loin recipes tend do well with low sodium.  I also find that recipes which have some sort of acid, like lemon juice, to add flavor and brighten them up are less bland with low salt.

 If you google, you should be able to find recipes that are made already low sodium, so you’re not winging it.

[Amethyst]

Thanks for all the ideas, everyone! I think several of these ideas could work for my niece. Thanks!