What can I use to make foods flavorful? (low Sodium intake)

If there is a Trader Joe's near you they have a seasoning-21 seasoning salute (no salt) and its yummy on everything from veggies to meats.
If using canned foods such as beans etc rinse well before use to get rid of the sodium sauce it sits in.

As for other sauces etc you will have to make from scratch to avoid the salt that is pretty high in most processed foods.

You can counter extra sodium intake by drinking more water-flavor it with lemon (my fav) or other fruits etc so its not just plain water but still healthy.

I'm not all that knowledgeable in this area, but my husband and I try to keep a good handle on our sodium so we buy Hunt's "no salt added" canned tomato sauce. He discovered it when his mom was dying of terminal cancer because it is one of the only sauces that doesn't include garlic, but it turned out to be excellent for almost anything that uses tomato based sauce (pasta dishes, pizza, etc). We generally dress it up with garlic, sautéed onion or peppers, and any other spices like basil, oregano, basically whatever you like. It has drastically less sodium than say, Ragu pasta sauce.

Canned vegetables are something to avoid. Fresh food, particularly produce, is the best option. But I understand price and storage can be a concern...so even opting for frozen vegetables (still cheap!) is generally a FAR better option when you are watching your sodium.

Try to stay away from boxes of food like Velveeta mac n' cheese, Hamburger Helper, etc. You can make similar stuff on your own. If you bake at all and use "regular" salted butter or margarine, you generally don't need to add the salt that a recipe calls for. I know that is easier said than done especially if he really likes things of that nature. But you can honestly do a lot to stay within sodium each day even if you just stay away from fast food places and restaurant food...and it sounds like you guys are doing that anyway out of necessity, so perhaps it can become a good sign to all of this and you will be out of that bad habit a little bit!

I get that some people just don't care for water but he really needs to drink plenty of it, and juices/soda are probably out since he has weight concerns. How about unsweetened tea? Also, could it possibly be an issue of how he likes his water? I know I like it refrigerator cold but no ice. Some like it ice cold, or lukewarm, or with a certain very specific type of ice. I know that is such a long shot...but for me the fact that it generally came in a huge glass filled with ice cubes was my #1 reason I didn't usually drink water at restaurants and other places, and therefore I was not in the habit of drinking it at home either.

potassium chloride *****es. it tastes like do-do in my opinion but in food you can't really tell.

also garlic, i'm all over that

I buy spices from a local guy here in upstate NY, a lot of his products are sugar free, sodium free and msg free and they are the best spices I have ever had in my life. (Not paid to say this lol)

I rarely use anything else now since finding his spice blends and I do still buy garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and cinnamon but other than that I don't need anything as his blends are just so creative and cover almost any type of meal you want to make. Simple just sprinkled on meat or veggies, or made into whatever dish you are creating.


google

kitchenkickn or tomarc's of troy

These are based near Albany NY, homemade hand blended spices. I have sent these as holiday and birthday gifts to family and friends and they love them. NOPE I am not affiliated or make no claim on these or anything from recommending this, I just am a huge fan who uses these spices and cant rave enough about them.

I like to use cayenne or garlic. I think a little spicy flavoring is a good alternative.

Adding acid perks things up and it they type of thing chefs do to elevate flavor. I use lemon or lime juice, apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar. Another tip when you're cooking is to brown something in the dish. Either meat, or browned tomato paste or caramelized onions. That makes a good depth of flavor. I like sprinkling fresh parsley as a garnish when I'm done cooking. I have a parsley plant that I got for less than $3, which is the cost of two bunches of parsley and it'll live for at least a year.

Garlic

and other spices if you must.

THIS. Garlic makes everything better.

I use lemon/lime juice or different vinegars if I'm avoiding salt.

Flavor: as someone already said, spices but the new growing season is upon us! Plant an herb garden in a pot, on your porch etc. Pick the stems when ready: I tie them together and hang them in my dining room to dry completely. Then crumble them on waxpaper and store in clean jars in my spice cupboard. I can tell you that oregano from last summer still tastes 5 times more flavorful than what you buy in the store.

As for flavoring in liguids: Brew your own decaf ice tea. I use raspberry bags one pot and then the next time I use mint or lemon or orange etc....flavored ice tea: no sugar but that is my choice. I also drink flavored seltzer water when I want something bubbly, no sugar or anything bad in that. Cranberry lime, black cherry....refreshing on a hot day!