WHAT CAN YOU DO IF THE DISH YOU ORDERED IS TOO SALTY?
You could send the dish back – or not. If you opted for the latter, pair the dish with plain rice or noodles to reduce the saltiness, said Reutens. Drain, scrape or reduce the amount of gravy that you spoon onto your rice or noodles.
Next, order a plain vegetable dish cooked with less salt. “The potassium in the vegetables can help to offset the effects of sodium in the over-salted dish,” she said. Finally, end your meal with one serving of fruit that is also rich in potassium and fibre such as apricot, banana, honeydew melon, kiwi, mango or orange.
Other than not dousing your food in soya sauce, gravy, ketchup or chilli sauce to reduce your salt intake, you can also try to eat your food while it’s still warm. “A food’s increased temperature makes it taste saltier,” said Reutens, so you don’t have to rely on condiments.
When dining out, steer clear of foods that contain a lot of acid or vinegar such as pickled vegetables, she said, as well as creamy dishes. “Cream casseroles, stews and pasta sauces may not taste obviously salty because of the texture.”