need to lower my salt intake but dont know how

eat less salt

As far as not liking water, you could possibly research alternate ideas for water intake. Obviously it's a vital part of nutrition and I would definitely look into solutions for that. To help reduce sodium - don't put it on anything frozen, as they add enough of their own salt. Also, when you're at the grocery store is the best time to figure out which options have less sodium (compare two types of bread, for example), just like the PP stated. It's really just all about paying more attention to what your food has in it before you even bring it home.

Something fairly inexpensive that you could add to your water is what I like to use: I drink either crystal light lemonade, which adds 70 sodium per packet, but you're drinking the water with it, and one bottle is only ten calories. For a lower sodium, try special k protein water, I get the pink lemonade, but they also have strawberry kiwi, that is 40g sodium, so 30g less than the crystal light, and it has I believe 5g of protein compared to none in the crystal light, and you need protein for building muscle, but it has 30 calories per bottle.

I take it you have done the obvious thing of not adding salt to anything as you either cook it or serve it?

When you are buying processed food you can look at the labels and try to choose products with less salt. It may also be worth checking whether the processed foods really are the cheapest in the various different categories for example I would expect that chicken nuggets would be cheaper than fresh chicken but are frozen chips cheaper than whole potatoes? Are baked beans in a tin cheaper than frozen peas?

You don't have to eat processed and boxed food to eat for cheap.

Buy brown rice in bulk. It seriously lasts forever, I haven't purchased rice in like 2 months. I also buy boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders in large quantities, cook about 3-4 days worth and freeze the rest. That way they're easy to heat up for dinners/lunches, one package of them runs around $6-$7 and lasts my family of 3 a couple days (including me eating chicken as a snack, lunch, and dinner). You can do the same thing with ground beef or turkey, although ground turkey can get pricey so just get lean ground beef and drain off the excess fat. I don't really eat bread or pasta, but you can buy pasta in bulk as well, and it lasts a long time.

Fruits and veggies can be a little tough, but you can either a. stock up on frozen veggies (they last a long time, have the nutritional value, and no added sodium), or hit up a local farmer's market for deals on produce. Buy what's on sale. My son LOVES strawberries, so I get them if they're on sale or if a farmer's market has a good deal on them. But if they don't, he's out of luck, I'll get whatever fruit is affordable at the time.

Don't add salt to your food. I know that seems impossible for some people, but I don't do it at my food tastes just fine. Instead, I have a well stocked spice cabinet (spices last a really long time too---I can't even remember the last time I had to buy any of my spices). You can season food with some lemon juice and basil/oregano/cilantro/whatever spice you like and you're good to go.

I take it you have done the obvious thing of not adding salt to anything as you either cook it or serve it?

When you are buying processed food you can look at the labels and try to choose products with less salt. It may also be worth checking whether the processed foods really are the cheapest in the various different categories for example I would expect that chicken nuggets would be cheaper than fresh chicken but are frozen chips cheaper than whole potatoes? Are baked beans in a tin cheaper than frozen peas?

Actually, I've found that buying a bag of chicken nuggets is more expensive than buying your own chicken and making em yourself. I have a 5 year old who went through a phase of refusing all food except chicken nuggets, salad, and strawberries, so I started making my own for him, much more cost efficient and healthy!

I take it you have done the obvious thing of not adding salt to anything as you either cook it or serve it?

When you are buying processed food you can look at the labels and try to choose products with less salt. It may also be worth checking whether the processed foods really are the cheapest in the various different categories for example I would expect that chicken nuggets would be cheaper than fresh chicken but are frozen chips cheaper than whole potatoes? Are baked beans in a tin cheaper than frozen peas?

Actually, I've found that buying a bag of chicken nuggets is more expensive than buying your own chicken and making em yourself. I have a 5 year old who went through a phase of refusing all food except chicken nuggets, salad, and strawberries, so I started making my own for him, much more cost efficient and healthy!

So agree with you! I make chicken nuggets at home for my daughter too. I wait till chicken is on sale and then I have her help me make them. She learns about cooking and eating healthy, and I know exactly what's going into her body, all while saving some $$.

We are on a strict budget with food. I stopped buying canned veggies and started buying either fresh or frozen. yes you can get a can for 50 cents and a bag of frozen is about $1.50 or so, but the bag has about 4-5 cans worth.

just eat only fruits, veggies, and beans! it will save you money, make you healthier, and totally cut down on your sodium! seriously, try it! google "plant-based diet" or read dr. furhman's book "eat to live" - definitely changing my life.

Get rid of processed foods. That's the only real way. Or choose low/no sodium food options.

You don't have to eat processed and boxed food to eat for cheap.

Buy brown rice in bulk. It seriously lasts forever, I haven't purchased rice in like 2 months. I also buy boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders in large quantities, cook about 3-4 days worth and freeze the rest. That way they're easy to heat up for dinners/lunches, one package of them runs around $6-$7 and lasts my family of 3 a couple days (including me eating chicken as a snack, lunch, and dinner). You can do the same thing with ground beef or turkey, although ground turkey can get pricey so just get lean ground beef and drain off the excess fat. I don't really eat bread or pasta, but you can buy pasta in bulk as well, and it lasts a long time.

Fruits and veggies can be a little tough, but you can either a. stock up on frozen veggies (they last a long time, have the nutritional value, and no added sodium), or hit up a local farmer's market for deals on produce. Buy what's on sale. My son LOVES strawberries, so I get them if they're on sale or if a farmer's market has a good deal on them. But if they don't, he's out of luck, I'll get whatever fruit is affordable at the time.

Don't add salt to your food. I know that seems impossible for some people, but I don't do it at my food tastes just fine. Instead, I have a well stocked spice cabinet (spices last a really long time too---I can't even remember the last time I had to buy any of my spices). You can season food with some lemon juice and basil/oregano/cilantro/whatever spice you like and you're good to go.

I'd stop buying cheap processed *kitten*. You aren't doing youself an favors. Frozen veggies are pretty cheap if you buy the store brand. Brown rice and dry beans are also cheap. As far as meat and fresh produce don't be loyal to one store. Keep an eye on the prices for all the stores in your area and buy whats on sale. When meat is on sale buy extra and freeze it.

it's actually cheaper to make the non processed versions yourself but might not be easier in terms of time.

just stop buying so much of the processed stuff. farmer's markets have cheaper produce and when you go grocery shopping, make sure the majority of your items come from the outer edges, the more you go into the aisles, the more likely you'll be getting processed foods

#1 you need to drink water, period! Try flavoring it with cucumbers, mint, orange or lemon slices if you don't like the flavor.

#2 stop buying processed food. I am an avid Dave Ramsey follower and I too live on a very strict $300 a month budget for groceries, for 4 people and this includes paper products like TP and paper towels, personal toiletries like shampoo, soap, razors, toothpaste etc, cleaning products, and diapers so I know you can eat healthy on a budget. Here is how I save money:

I make everything from scratch and I mean everything. I bake my own bread. I make my own soups and spaghetti sauce and freeze them. I even make my own cleaning products, laundry detergent and hand soap. By making everything from scratch I can control what and how much goes in it.

I grow a garden in my backyard. What I can't grow I buy at the farmers market in season and it is alot cheaper than Walmart. Last week I got a huge grocery bag Probably 15#'s of Broccoli for $5. I then put these fresh veggies in the freezer or can them. I go to the local U Pick farm and buy strawberries, blackberries and blueberries for aroun $1 a LB. I have made friends with local farmers and get alot of produce for free. For example last week a guy let me pick up a 50# sack of onions for free another farmer let me dig a 5 gallon bucket of red potatoes for free and I buy tomatoes for $8 a 5 gallon bicket at another u pick farm and I can them every summer. I grow all of my herbs myself and dry them to use all year long.

My husband hunts and we butcher 2 deer every year. We use ground venison instead of hamburger and eat deer steaks instead of beef. As for chicken I only buy it when it is on sale and freeze it. I buy bone in chicken breasts for .89 to .99 a LB and debone it myself. I buy pork tenderloins and make my own pork chops and freeze them. You can typically get these for $1.99 a LB (SAMS Club has them for this price all of the time.) I try to buy my seafood direct from the fisherman. We live on the coast and you can get shrimp, heads on, for around $2 a LB. I buy these in season and freeze them. As for seafood I can not get from fisherman I buy it at Kroger (typically on wednesdays) when they mark it down because it is within 2 day of the expiration date and I either eat it right away or freeze it.

You can live on a budget and be healthy one of my favorite summer treats is fresh salsa which is easy to make it is tomatos, onions, cilantro and a jalapeno chopped up and seasoned with cumin. I eat it by itself with a fork. You can toss in an avacado if you want or black beans to add protein. I also make veggie soup which is whatever I have in my freezer with a can of tomatoes and a can of beer. It is about 85 calories a 1 cup serving. Another one of my favorites is cauliflower carrot soup. It is cauliflower and carrots boiled in water then you strain off half the water puree it and add ground ginger for seasoning. It is about 50 calories per serving. I like to serve any of these with a simple protein like a grilled chicken breast (which I season with ACV or regular vinegar), a grilled pork chop or baked fish.

Eggs are another cheap yet often forgetten about protein. I like to make spinach quiche and fritattas. I also like them just boiled or scrambled on bread as a sandwich.

You need to stop using money and not liking to drink water as an excuse buy a cookbook, read some forums on healthy scratch cooking and make a lifestyle change.

I also need to lower my salt intake, incidently I already knew the reason. So, I will have to agree with what most of the people here already did. Just Say No to processed food! Also with the water thing, I live in a small city that has the most horrible tasting water ever known to man. I get Culligan water delivered (water cooler and 5 gallon jugs). It costs me about $25 a month, but it is totally worth it. If you can't afford that, maybe try getting a Britta pitcher. I used those before and they do a good job for most water and they're not real expensive. Otherwise, as a last resort Walmart does sell cases of bottled water for very cheap too. No matter what you do, it is imperitive that you start drinking water.