Low Sodium Doesn't Have to Mean Low Flavor!

 As trends continue towards healthier meal options, the cut-backs on sodium in foods is still in high demand. Customers seek nutritional information, and items notorious for having higher amounts of sodium are typically some of the first to hit the chopping block when it comes to decision time. Not only are more and more customers demanding lower sodium options, but now there are more regulations in certain states aimed at cutting back on the salt as well! For instance, New York just passed legislation requiring that food service establishments with 15 or more locations identify when menu items exceed daily salt intake limits, red-flagging these items to customers right off the bat. Chefs must tap into their creative mindsets to find new ways of spicing up dishes without adding sodium. 

First, let’s consider what your existing menu may look like. High flavor items may in fact correlate with the items you’ll find to have the most sodium on your menu. These may include soups, meats, and side dishes. Once you’ve narrowed down a few of your dishes that have the highest sodium contents, then you can better target those items to identify ways of substituting other flavorful additions in order to retain the flavor of your meal item without the need for overwhelming amounts of sodium.

There are a few ways that one can go about changing a high-sodium menu item into a low-sodium, yet flavorful menu option. Here are a few options to consider:

• Add Produce: Items like sauces and soups tend to come with a high sodium content to pack a flavorful punch, but that flavor can easily be achieved with the addition of produce instead. Different fruits and veggies can add new levels of flavor to your items and can easily be incorporated with a food processor or immersion blender - or even just roasted or boiled and added in chunks!

• Add Herbs and Spices: Salt should merely be a single tool in your spice rack, and sacrificing the salt for other options like herbs and spices can easily help you to retain the flavor of your foods without increasing the sodium. Play with bitter, acidic, or sweet flavors to give prepared foods a kick.

• Smaller Portions: For salty items that simply won’t be the same without the sodium, consider serving these in smaller sized portions. For instance, McDonald’s decreased the sizing of their french fries in kid’s meals while retaining the overall bulk of the meal by adding apple slices or yogurt. In this manner, one still can have the satisfaction of the salt - just in smaller sizes.

If you’re afraid that changing the sodium content in your menu items will spark a bit of backlash, you can rest assured that small changes are likely to go unnoticed. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the average consumer can’t detect a change in sodium levels smaller than 25 percent. Satisfy your customers and the regulations by decreasing sodium levels in your menu items today.