Layla Ward, who stresses heart health, has discovered ways to cut sodium without compromising taste. “A low-sodium diet does not have to be dull!” Layla argues insistingly. She lists below her go-to, heart-friendly, simple and enjoyable snacks.
1. Fresh vegetables and hummus
Layla loves a dish of fresh vegetables topped with homemade hummus as her snack. “Making it myself will let me regulate the salt intake,” she says. Her creamy, delicious dip comes from chickpeas, a little garlic, lemon juice, olive oil. “It’s loaded with protein and fiber as well,” she notes.
2. Fruit topped with unsalted nuts
Layla grabs for fruit matched with a handful of unsalted almonds or walnuts for a quick snack. “The fruit adds natural sweetness; the healthy fats in nuts are good for the heart,” she notes. Layla loves combinations of apple slices with almonds and grapes with walnuts.
Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries
For a delicious and filling snack Layla likes Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries. She explains, “Greek yogurt has a creamy texture that’s really satisfying and is naturally lower in sodium.” This snack is heart-healthy since the berries provide a taste explosion together with antioxidants.
4. Herb-Based Popcorn
Layla chooses air-popped popcorn topped with herbs over salty chips. “I add taste with rosemary or a bit of garlic powder,” she says. For everyone watching their sodium consumption, popcorn is a wonderful choice since it is naturally low in salt and high in fiber.
5. Sliced Cucumbers with Cottage Cheese
Layla’s low-sodium snack is cottage cheese topped with cucumbers most of the time. “It’s refreshing and has just the right mix of protein and crunch,” she notes. She chooses low-sodium cottage cheese to help to keep the sodium down.
Layla shows with these mouthwatering treats that you may savor tasty, low-sodium choices fit for your heart. “Healthy eating doesn’t have to feel like a sacrifice,” she says hopefully.
