Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you both! I know the only true solution is to get in the kitchen, but also to get a lot better about checking labels. I read that rotisserie chickens can actually be infused with a ton of saline solution at most stores so that's risky too, even though I always thought it was a healthy idea.

If anyone has sauce or condiment ideas that are low in sugar and sodium, or at least low enough when used in moderation, please share! My husband can eat plain meat all day long but I just can't do it.

yeah as delicious as that rotisserie chicken is, she is a pretty unhealthy bird. Re the sodium question, do you have high blood pressure - is this the reason you're concerned? If not, I would be more focused on the sugar than sodium aspect. And the closer to home made your meals are, the lower in sodium they will be in general.

I have struggled with high blood pressure in the past, especially when I'm even just a few pounds overweight. My whole pregnancy I had it too. I'm close to a normal weight right now but I would guess its still elevated. The other problem for me is how puffy/bloated I feel after certain foods. It seemed like at first, cutting most added sugar completely took care of that. But now that it's been a couple months I'm feeling it again and can only guess that's attributed to the excess sodium.

Drinking a lot of water throughout the day will help with that bloating as well OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you both! I know the only true solution is to get in the kitchen, but also to get a lot better about checking labels. I read that rotisserie chickens can actually be infused with a ton of saline solution at most stores so that's risky too, even though I always thought it was a healthy idea.

If anyone has sauce or condiment ideas that are low in sugar and sodium, or at least low enough when used in moderation, please share! My husband can eat plain meat all day long but I just can't do it.

yeah as delicious as that rotisserie chicken is, she is a pretty unhealthy bird. Re the sodium question, do you have high blood pressure - is this the reason you're concerned? If not, I would be more focused on the sugar than sodium aspect. And the closer to home made your meals are, the lower in sodium they will be in general.

I have struggled with high blood pressure in the past, especially when I'm even just a few pounds overweight. My whole pregnancy I had it too. I'm close to a normal weight right now but I would guess its still elevated. The other problem for me is how puffy/bloated I feel after certain foods. It seemed like at first, cutting most added sugar completely took care of that. But now that it's been a couple months I'm feeling it again and can only guess that's attributed to the excess sodium.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you both! I know the only true solution is to get in the kitchen, but also to get a lot better about checking labels. I read that rotisserie chickens can actually be infused with a ton of saline solution at most stores so that's risky too, even though I always thought it was a healthy idea.

If anyone has sauce or condiment ideas that are low in sugar and sodium, or at least low enough when used in moderation, please share! My husband can eat plain meat all day long but I just can't do it.

Potassium chloride. Bonus is potassium is good for you.

Look up diets linked to the American Heart Association. I am sure there are some reliable alternatives.

The big thing is make as much as you can yourself so you can control the ingredients. Easier said than done, I know.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you both! I know the only true solution is to get in the kitchen, but also to get a lot better about checking labels. I read that rotisserie chickens can actually be infused with a ton of saline solution at most stores so that's risky too, even though I always thought it was a healthy idea.

If anyone has sauce or condiment ideas that are low in sugar and sodium, or at least low enough when used in moderation, please share! My husband can eat plain meat all day long but I just can't do it.

yeah as delicious as that rotisserie chicken is, she is a pretty unhealthy bird. Re the sodium question, do you have high blood pressure - is this the reason you're concerned? If not, I would be more focused on the sugar than sodium aspect. And the closer to home made your meals are, the lower in sodium they will be in general.

OP here - thank you both! I know the only true solution is to get in the kitchen, but also to get a lot better about checking labels. I read that rotisserie chickens can actually be infused with a ton of saline solution at most stores so that's risky too, even though I always thought it was a healthy idea.

If anyone has sauce or condiment ideas that are low in sugar and sodium, or at least low enough when used in moderation, please share! My husband can eat plain meat all day long but I just can't do it.

Yes my first thought before I even got to the end of your post was "make your own".

Just be aware that processed foods of any kind (so anything that comes in a box, can) is going to have a ton of hidden and obvious sugar and sodium, along with saturated fats and stabilizers to make them last through a nuclear blast.

Grilled chicken is easy. making pesto is also easy, but I bet you can find a fresh pesto at Trader Joe's that is lower in sodium and has pretty clean ingredients. Here is one https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/vegan-kale-cashew-basil-pesto-059821

Yeah, that was always the thing with low-fat, packaged “diet foods” (which I know you aren’t eating.) The amount of sodium in some alternatives is off the charts.

You are wise to be aware and try to find alternative ways to spice.

For your chicken issue, recommend roasting one yourself or getting a rotisserie from the store and then just storing the meat when you pluck it from the carcass. Would be cheaper, too.

Pesto is also not hard to make if you have a food processor. You can control the ingredients.

But salt is actually deadlier than sugar.

I have many strikes against my diet in general such as a lack of adventurous eating, an inclination towards convenience shopping/convenience foods, a toddler, not enjoying cooking, etc. But in the last couple months I finally feel like I've gotten a better handle on added sugar. I previously went heavy on sugary condiments, packaged foods with sugar and too many treats overall. I've cut most of those out and am really watching the added sugar, but I've been feeling bloated and uncomfortable despite losing weight, and am realizing the sodium I'm consuming some days is off the charts.

I've been eating chicken with pesto, both free of sugar, but a double whammy in my case of store-bought grilled chicken and store-bought pesto that are both loaded with sodium. Found a sugar free marinara sauce for pasta dishes but again- loaded with sodium. I snack on triscuits which honestly don't have as much sodium as I would have thought, but still some. I would imagine the advice I'll get is "make your own food," but I just thought I'd see if others have come to this realization and how you've handled it. I try to drink a ton of water to combat the effects but sometimes it's just not working.