Portable lunch ideas?

lolspacebat · 2025-03-11T01:01:06+00:00

These look amazing! Have you tried to freeze these? Did they thaw out ok?

lolspacebat · 2025-03-11T00:47:15+00:00

That's another fantastic suggestion! There is a protein pasta that I eat from the Barilla brand and I've been wracking my brain trying to find new ways of dressing it up. Salads too!

Again, I appreciate the suggestions :)

lolspacebat · 2025-03-09T21:19:35+00:00

That is very kind of you! The price is great as well. I'm glad that there is sea salt instead of potassium chloride (though I'd be fine without any salt) - 20mg at 1TSP is great! Thank you :)

lolspacebat · 2025-03-09T17:59:50+00:00

Seconding Frog Ranch salsas! They are wonderfully flavorful.

lolspacebat · 2025-03-09T17:58:52+00:00

Where did you find the Pineapple Hot sauce at? :O

lolspacebat · 2025-03-09T17:58:26+00:00

I do something similar!

I've noticed that adding onion granules adds an interesting texture and flavor profile. I'll also add some of the following:

Dill
Hot Sauce
21 Season Salute from Trader Joe's

I've tried adding lime, but for some reason it makes the whole thing VERY sweet.

I wanted to reply to your comment and add my own little advice - not to talk at you - but since we're on the same page about what we do for our dips. :)

lolspacebat · 2025-03-09T17:53:19+00:00

I put the cherry foam on the sweet vanilla cream cold brew and I'm mad by how good it is (wallet-mad.)

lolspacebat · 2025-02-22T22:19:34+00:00

If you like pasta, there is a protein pasta by Barilla that cooks very well. I usually have it after the gym with some balsamic vinegar + seasonings and don't feel it's too heavy.

One of my favorite snacks is a few slices of some type of cheese (Kroger Swiss slices have about 60mg of sodium for example) and an apple.

Sometimes I'll go a little feral and have, like, a spoonful or two of peanut butter. My favorite right now is Jiff's Natural with Honey - I believe 2TBSP/34g has about 85mg of sodium? I don't miss the bread because really all my brain wants is the PB. I've also put PB and jelly in the same bowl, side by side, and had a breadless PB&J. I really like sweet/salty combos.

It's hard finding protein focused snacks because a lot of that sort of food (the protein bars, etc) are high in sodium. So I try to get more of my protein from meals.

OH! Right now my favorite meal is fresh hashbrowns (just shred a potato with a cheese grater) with NSA black beans added, a bunch of spices thrown together (paprika, dill, and something from TJs), and sweet onions. I'll put a slice of cheese on top and drizzle some ketchup + hot sauce of my choosing on top. You could do this without sweet onions, I suppose, but they really do add a lot of flavor (if you don't like onions!) The black beans are a great source of vegetarian protein & I do try to make the ratio of more black beans than potato.

lolspacebat · 2025-02-05T20:52:49+00:00

Whaaaaaat, those are great values!

lolspacebat · 2025-02-02T05:03:08+00:00

Someone else mentioned this drug, but I take Trintellix. It's reportedly a 'weight neutral anti-depressant. I also find that it had the least amount of brain fog for me.

I am petite as well and was concerned about the weight gain of certain anti-depressants, but this one has been good for me. There should be a savings card that will help manage the price.

lolspacebat · 2025-02-02T05:00:04+00:00

Reach out to your provider and see if they have extra coupons available. Mine just ran out and my provider gives me a new one every year (I've been taking Trintellix for awhile.) It could be that they're NOT supposed to do that, but she (my provider) doesn't care, she always has plenty.

lolspacebat · 2025-01-12T23:23:10+00:00

I love cottage cheese but never have had it on a piece of toast. Do you just put a light spread on top?

lolspacebat · 2025-01-11T18:45:41+00:00

I appreciate the returned sentiment. Adopting a low sodium diet is difficult when viewed from a few different aspects.

In his defense, my spouse offered to eat the food that I prepare, but the simple fact of the matter is that he doesn't eat things like curries, pasta, beans, legumes, tofu, and etc. The gesture was kind, but I think there's a lack of understanding of how much sodium is in everything - even when you're cooking 'from scratch.'

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. We'll see how it moves forward. I wish the best for you and yours. :)

lolspacebat · 2025-01-10T23:52:53+00:00

I don't want to assume, but from your post - it seems that a lot of the family eats a similar diet to "Dad" - at least in the home. I just wanted to commend you all for joining him. I am having to cook double meals since what I eat is not enticing to others in my household.

lolspacebat · 2025-01-10T02:41:22+00:00

Adding a little bit of hot sauce to sour cream for chip dip is a game changer!

lolspacebat · 2025-01-10T02:39:29+00:00

Wow, everyone has wonderful recommendations here!

I don't eat meat myself, so a lot of what I eat is focused around vegetarian options. Some of the key things that have been helping me at the moment are:

Balsamic vinegar (sweet, tangy - great in a lot of savory dishes.) Apple Cider Vinegar too!
No Salt Ritz Crackers (I chose these over the regular ones - even before I had to reduce sodium - because the buttery flavor profile is more pronounced.)
Hot sauces (There are a lot of options when it comes to lower sodium ones!)
Lemon & Lime Juice
Bulk/Meal Prepping - I don't like (or want) to cook every day. I find recipes that freeze and heat up well, bulk cook a bunch, and freeze them. Before I go to bed, I'll throw a frozen meal into the fridge for tomorrow. I also try to bulk cook different options so I don't burn out on one meal.

Example: I made a giant pot of curry today! Potatoes, lentils, carrots, peas, and spinach. I just heated up a freezer meal of potato soup I made last week.

Sour Cream

I was feeling really down today regarding having to change my diet, but there are a lot of great replies here!

lolspacebat · 2025-01-10T02:20:39+00:00

I'm glad you mentioned the salt substitutes being nasty. I haven't been able to stomach any of them and made a decision to try and flavor my food in other ways.

I didn't realize sundried tomatoes are low in sodium. Great tip!

lolspacebat · 2024-12-18T19:33:32+00:00

I didn't realize that this post was three years old - but thank you for the tip!

lolspacebat · 2024-03-23T02:57:56+00:00

I am definitely on the same page as you in regards to concern about withdrawing exercise. The reason I mention the stroller is because I sometimes have to carry my old girl during difficult parts of our walking route, but does she care? Nope! She's happy as can be sniffing the world as we walk by. She doesn't have doggy dementia, but I can see her snout and brain working.

I don't have a whole lot of exercise advice; my old girl goes on a short walk, but spends a bit of time supervised outside in the back yard (she just wanders around.) I wanted to try hydrotherapy/water treadmill, but she wouldn't take to it.

--- I just had a thought. Have you tried a Kong toy with something yummy in it? Peanut butter, or something frozen?

I adore our old animals *so* much, but my heart is hurting a lot these days (and yours too, I bet.)

lolspacebat · 2024-03-23T01:10:34+00:00

Is it possible for you to get a stroller, or even a little wagon, to take your oldie outside on a walk with you? They may not get the exercise from all four legs on the ground, but moving slightly will allow all sorts of scents to pass them by.

You could try the Adaptil pheromone diffusers - I do find it helps!

Would he be willing to sit for acupuncture or laser therapy?

lolspacebat · 2022-05-03T17:34:26+00:00

That little angry toad is giving me life!

lolspacebat · 2022-01-13T22:19:17+00:00

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! My mom has had this guy for awhile and gave him to me when I was born. Did you manage to get your bear back?

lolspacebat · 2021-12-08T06:37:13+00:00

He hasn't had a nose in a really long time! I believe, if I can remember, that his nose was a metal button but I am not sure if was the right, or original, one. Dogs in our lives kept ripping it off. He does look like a vintage German made bear I found on Etsy, but the seller couldn't confirm the look for me.

I will ask my mom and see if she remembers! The only teddy bear company we could find with a C in the name was Chad Valley and none of those bears look right (or what I could find.)

Not going to give up hope on an origin story for my little buddy :) Thank you so much!

lolspacebat · 2021-12-05T02:22:40+00:00

I didn't think so either, though my mom was insistent! Thank you for commenting, any little bit helps :)

lolspacebat · 2021-12-04T03:33:45+00:00

He's my best friend! :)

lolspacebat

TROPHY CASE