Last night on the way back from the airport from picking up my husband we stopped in town at Brighton Bar & Grill for dinner. It’s a local restaurant that we’ve been going to for years, the sort that the people working there know their customers, what they like and don’t like, what they normally drink, etc.
Being a Friday night it was pretty full but we were able to get a table without much of a wait. To my right was a party of 4 men, judging to be in their 60’s, discussing money/investments/retirement.
Across from me was a young couple, judging late 20’, guy with BlackBerry glued to his hand, female companion blonde, sharply dressed in tight jeans, jacket, knee high boots. He was drinking a dark beer and she a glass of red wine.
The Gentlemen get their food first and like most people I look at the plates of food as the waitress serves them. Of the 4 men one picked up the salt and proceeded to salt down his entire plate before taking one bite. I inwardly shake my head guessing he’s probably on blood pressure medication.
We get our food next…(no salt used at our table).
The couple across from us gets theirs and I was SHOCKED to see someone so young do the same thing with the salt! The young good looking blonde picked up the salt shaker and solidly doused her plate before having one bite. Her male companion did not. Maybe she thinks the glass of cardiac healthy red wine will offset her bad habit of saturating her food in salt. (it wont)
I’ve seen this myself more than once in my lifetime and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a learned habit rather than an acquired one although I can hardly offer proof of it. I would have to guess that theses “salters” grew up with this and unconsciously believe that this is how normal food should taste. Same with those who plaster ketchup over their entire breakfast no matter what the fare might consist of.
For me I have to admit that I do like my salt but only on certain foods as my taste buds are a somewhat dulled by my experiences living in a closed environment for 5 years as is my sense of smell. Other foods have no business being salted (like lobster or potato and leek soup for example, mmmmm). I once went salt free for a couple of months to see what affect it had on my high blood pressure. And it went up by an average of 7 pts which is typically atypical of me.
I must admit to loving salt much more than the regular meal. I have always craved it in a pica kind of way (as has my mother and brother) I eventually was tested and found to have a thyroid related disorder which causes me not to process salt properly so that my constant craving for salt was actually my body demanding that I supply it. It was a bit disquieting until I found out.
HI. I used to do this and my SIS still does ..at my complaining.
Mom is salt free as much as possible due to kidney failure. Boy if I only knew then, what I know now. It is so bad for you. so many things have salt in them you have no idea of. Good idea to steer clear of it as much as a person can.
I do use sea salt from time to time, but certainly not without tasting whatever it is I am cooking or eating.
But I can’t stand too much salt–or sugar for that matter.
I don’t really care for salt or sugar based processed foods.
Ketchup–bleah, can’t stand it.
This is a really good site. Thanks for sharing. I read your article about salt. We just got back from Marion’s, and I’m sure you remember how salty that food is… but it didn’t keep me from adding more. Thanks for the reminder. we use sea salt at home. That’s safe, right?
I grew up in a family that used the salt shaker freely often without tasting. I have tried to break the habit but find myself slipping back into it. We have compensated for the habit by using very little salt in cooking. Can’t do much about the condiments though we don’t use much in the way of processed foods any more. Overall we have lowered our salt intake though we still try to do more.
When I was 17 and pregnant, I had high blood pressure. Then toxemia. Then pre-eclampsia. I was very, very ill. Back in the day I would liberally use salt. Now I NEVER salt food on my plate. And rarely if ever salt the food I’m cooking. I rely on spices. I’m on BP medication now, but I can tell you it is not from using salt! I learned my lesson at the young age of 17. To this day I don’t like salt-type foods.
Brenda
Kirk – you make a good point about it being a learned habit. I think many of us grew up and passing the salt shaker was part of dinner. We also grew up with less processed foods which are now loaded with sodium. I can’t really pinpoint when I quit using salt, has to be at least 15 years.
Laoch – is the thyroid disorder managed with medication?
Carol – well here’s what I did………no salt shaker on the table, cook with spices/herbs but not salt. Yet I know it’s hard. My Brother still salts down his food.
Cilicious – interesting we have very similar tastes in food (and wine), I am not a salt or sugar person either.
Darlene – nice to see you here. And yes I remember Marion’s, we ordered a pizza from there a couple of months ago when visiting my Dad. Hub and I were both up all night drinking water. About sea salt being better…. it’s still sodium. Read an answer from the Mayo Clinic on this question: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sea-salt/AN01142
Mary – it is a hard habit to break. That is the biggest complaint from cardiac patients … changing to a no salt added diet or restricted sodium. The only advice I can give is use other seasonings which do no contain sodium. I know it’s hard though.
I do use salt (sea when I can), but mainly because even though my wife’s an excellent cook, she cooks everything very bland. Now, she learned this and did it when her dad was alive as he disliked anything spicy. For him, straight tomato sauce, or plain pizza was way too spicy for him.
So, I have to spice things myself.
The only thing that comes to mind that I salt and that is when I boil potates, or cook pasta, yuk to salt not that it is good or bad for me I just don’t like it.
I just now read Mary’s reply, when I was in the hospital for my heart attack they served cream of cauliflower soup which I love till I tasted theirs it was more like cream of salt, I just couldn’t believe it. I gave my hubby at taste and even he could not eat it and he does like a bit of salt on his food needless to say that went back.
A second bit of a comment on this topic. A couple of times a year we get a taste for corned beef boiled with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. Mom fixed it as usual but this time we both found it very salty. Almost unpalatably salty. Next time she intends to rinse the meat and soak it in a couple of changes of water to remove as much salt as possible–even though the instructions say not to. We have never before had a piece of corned beef taste that salty. We don’t know what has changed–brand?, process?, what ever else. The leftovers of this latest piece will be slivered with shredded potatoes and onions to make hash. We hope that the potatoes will absorb much of the salt.
Brenda – wow! what a lot to go through at age 17! You must have been scared to death. I’m same as you, cook with spices for flavor, not salt.
Dave - there’s a lot of other things you can add for flavor that do not have salt. Mrs. Dash has an entire line of seasonings that do not contain salt, have you tried any of these? http://www.mrsdash.com/products/
Mary Anne – how odd you got something so salty in the hospital and I’m guessing you were on a cardiac diet following your heart attack. Good thing you sent it back.
Mary – I’ve never bought corned beef but I’ve heard other people complain about this as well. Some recommend to soak it in cold water (like you said) and change the water every few hours. Hope that helps.
In my 20′s I never used salt or pepper on anything — I just ate things the way they came.
I probably get too much salt now, though I’m not one to salt my food before tasting it. Except for pizza … I always salt it (and I’m sure it never needs salt).
The fright for salt must be an american thing… you are way too afraid of it. It’s the same with coffey and sugar… And yet, americans are not that healthy.
In Denmark we drink real coffey, use salt and love sugar, but we use it with care. However, like other europeans we know how to enjoy life and live healthy.
Shaking your head because someone uses salt is far out. But it’s bad behavour not to taste on food before its saltet.
Let’s ease up non the healthy police, and don’t drag your extremes down over other peoples heads.
Been a long time Elaine, just happened to see your email inviting me in, Well no salt at our house, hubby has HIgh BP so we got rid of the salt years ago. Use Pepper. Lots of great info here at your place. Great Job.