A low sodium diet for kidney health shouldn’t be bland and tasteless! You can and should add flavor to your food while following a renal diet!
There are plenty of ways to boost the flavor of your meals and snacks and enjoy what you are eating while still sticking to a low sodium diet.
Let’s dive right in!
Low or no sodium spices and seasoning blends
There really are endless opportunities here. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, cumin, turmeric, ginger powder, black pepper, and so much more!
Pick two to three options to get started. My go to seasonings are garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. I season almost everything I cook with these three spices. No need to measure because there’s no salt in them (make sure you’re getting garlic powder, NOT garlic salt)!
You do need to be a little more careful with seasoning blends because many are high in sodium. Check the label and look for blends that are less than 140 mg per serving (and make sure you’re aware of how many servings you’re actually using)!
You also want to check the ingredient list and ensure that there are no potassium or phosphorus additives! This would look like “potassium chloride” or “disodium phosphate” in the ingredient list.
While you can find blends like curry powder, Cajun seasoning, Greek seasoning, and many others at the grocery store, my favorite brand is The Spice House. They have a Salt Free Seasoning line with A LOT of great options.
When you get to their website, search “salt free” and it will bring up their line of salt free seasoning blends. My current obsession is their Singapore Citrus Salt Free Curry Blend. It is so good on roasted veggies 🙂
Fresh or dried herbs & aromatics
Use dried herbs like parsley, oregano, basil, and bay leaves while cooking. Use fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, mint, and basil after cooking to top your dish. Use aromatics like garlic, onion, chives, and shallots during cooking!
All of these add TONS of flavor and don’t add any sodium to the meal.
Acid
Acid includes lemon, lime, and vinegars! These three ingredients add a tanginess to the dish and a lot of flavor! They are great to use in sauces, dressings, soups, stir fry dishes, and with plain old veggies.
You can choose whichever vinegar you want! Rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar…again, there are so many options! Use vinegar to make a salad dressing, to pickle some veggies, or to add some tang to a sauce!
Another perk is they are all low in potassium!
Coconut aminos
Coconut aminos are a lower sodium alternative to soy sauce and tamari. You can use them in place of soy sauce in any dish that you would usually use soy sauce in!
Make sure to check the label as all brands are not low in sodium. I typically buy the brand Coconut Secret. The only ingredients are coconut sap and sea salt. 1 Tbsp. is 270 mg sodium. Regular soy sauce is ~ 900 mg sodium for the same portion, and reduced sodium soy sauce ~500 mg. You can find this brand on my Amazon Storefront linked below!
Hot Sauce
If you like it spicy, add hot sauce to your meal! A little usually goes a long way, but if you need a low sodium option, my favorite’s are Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce or Siete Hot Sauce! You can find these hot sauces at your grocery store or on Amazon (see links below).
Amazon Links for Coconut Secret coconut aminos and Hot Sauces
Eat food that tastes great!
Please don’t eat bland, flavorless food! Boost the flavor of your meals by trying some of the ideas above. My goal is for you to ENJOY the food you eat on a renal diet while still PROTECTING your kidneys!
For recipe ideas that add flavor to the renal diet, check out my Recipes Page and Cooking YouTube Channel.
Please note that this page includes affiliate links in which I earn a small commission if you choose to purchase. It in no way effects the cost to you.
