Are you a salt-aholic? {Sunkist S'alternative}

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sunkist S’alternative for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you a salt-aholic like me? Knowing that you have a problem is the first step, right? I'm working on cutting down my salt intake. One of the ways I've been doing this is by visiting the Sunkist S’alternative website. "S'alternative is an all natural way to flavor food, boost potassium intake and cut down on sodium using Sunkist® lemons as an alternative to salt!"


“Hidden salts” can be found in more foods than you realize and can be dangerous to your health. Most people don't realize how much sodium they are consuming on a daily basis. Do you? Take this fast and fun Sunkist Sodium Quiz to find out where you fall on the sodium scale based on your daily food choices. 

I took the quiz and this is what the quiz revealed... 

The sodium scale revealed you are a

Shake & Baker

• 

You’re a culinary Columbus, in search of new frontiers in flavor. You tend to choose meals high in sodium, driven by the intensity. It’s fun to seek the savory but getting turbo charged taste doesn’t mean you have to ignore sodium. Get the high-flying taste you crave without the sodium when you substitute Sunkist lemons for salt. You’ll find bold flavor and surprising health benefits. No pain, no grain, just fresh, zesty adventures in food and drink!

Here are a few tips/facts from the Sunkist S'alternative website on ways to reduce sodium every day in your diet: 

• Plan meals carefully. If a high sodium food is selected, choose your other menu items from lower sodium groups.

• Read labels of packaged or prepared food products for the sodium content. Look for items “without added salt.”

• Skip the salt in all cooking and food preparation by serving extra Sunkist lemon wedges and herb mixtures for individual seasoning.

• Check the sodium content of the drinking water in your area with your local Health Department. If you are on a lower sodium restricted diet, do not drink the water if it has been treated with a water-softening agent.

• When eating away from home, order freshly cooked turkey or chicken versus pressed meat. Turkey rolls and other pre-cooked poultry meats contain a much higher sodium content than freshly cooked poultry.

• As you reduce your sodium intake, your taste buds will adjust, allowing you to enjoy the true flavors of food that salt often masks.

Try this low sodium recipe tonight: 

Lemon Seafood Paella

Source: Sunkist S'alternative

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients: 

1-32 oz can low sodium vegetable broth

1 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon saffron threads

1lb. of firm, fresh pieces of whitefish such as tilapia, bass, halibut and swordfish, cut into 16-21 pieces

1lb. or 16-21 mussels, cleaned and de-bearded

1lb. or 16-21 medium sized clams, rinsed

½ cup chopped fresh parsley

3 Sunkist® lemons, zest and juice

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 ½ cups minced onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

3 cups uncooked short-grain rice such as Arborio

1 cup frozen green peas

1-8oz jar of sliced, roasted red peppers

Directions: 

1. To prepare broth, combine all the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer (do not boil). Keep warm over low heat.

2. To prepare paella, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large paella pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish pieces to pan and sauté 1 minute. Remove fish from pan, reserve and keep warm. Add onion to pan and sauté 5 minutes. Add the lemon zest, garlic and crushed red pepper and cook 5 minutes. Add rice and cook 1 minute longer, stirring constantly. Stir in broth, bring to a low boil and cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. Stir in the peas and red pepper slices. Add mussels and clams to pan, nestling them into rice mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until shells open; discard any unopened shells. Stir in the reserved fish and chopped parsley and cook 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in lemon juice and check for seasoning. Cover with a towel and let stand 10 minutes before stirring.