I am catering a conference at our synagogue this weekend and JUST found out that a participant is allergic to salt and has requested a salt-free meal. (I am serving breakfast, lunch, snack and dessert over the course of a day). This is a kosher event, so everything is dairy/parve. I am already accommodating others with gluten-free and sugar-free requirements.
Any ideas for something besides raw veggies and fruit (and even then, I think I have to watch for ones that don’t have/aren’t processed with sodium)? I am making poached salmon in wine with lemon, but even a piece of plain baked salmon has sodium. All ideas welcome – don’t worry about dairy/parve, as I can often figure out ways to work with that.
TIA. I am trying to offer something besides saying, “Bring something you know you can eat so I don’t accidentally send you to the ER.”
Human bodies are full of sodium, so it’s not so much an “allergy” as being sensitive to elevated levels of sodium. You should be able to prepare just about anything that doesn’t have sodium added. Please note that even though the chef is not “adding” salt to things like pickles or canned soups and meats, someone else has at some point in the past.
Allergic to SALT? Like NaCl!!! Something does not sound right… he might be pulling your leg, because this person would be dead from eating normal foods - NaCl is inherently present everywhere and unlike allergens, it is absolutely necessary for the body to function. Think electrolyte balance! That said, the person might be allergic to add ins in table salt or has other reasons to avoid salt…
By salt-free were they talking about added salt? I would think so, which would make your job easier. I I wouldn’t hesitate to ask the participant for suggestions. You can prepare it whatever she suggests.
If you are stuck on your own, you might make this person a green salad with fresh vegetables and chicken poached without salt. Plain olive oil and vinegar dressing with herbs is basically sodium free.
I also immediately thought, the body is made up of significant amounts of salt! I can appreciate being on a low-salt or salt-free diet, but there’s no way someone is allergic to salt.
I’d microwave or poach a piece of salmon separately with no salt after checking they can eat salmon. Chicken breast if they can’t. Salad with their own oil and vinegar. I agree no one is allergic to salt, but some should be eating low salt diets. Generally if you can’t use salt a little more lemon will make up for the flavor.
Yes, I thought about electrolyte balance, too. I hope she’s talking about just added salt. We’re going to call her to find out the issues and see if she has a list of what things she can eat.
I cook without salt for my own health reasons, and my daily limit is 1400 mg, well below the fed guidelines. It can be hard to keep to that.
Maybe they are sensitive to iodine?
I’d expect that someone that sensitive to foods is experienced in bringing their own, so outside of not servings Doritos as a side, I expect what you are planning is fine.
Agree that asking the person would solve many other issues, like whether the person likes certain foods. Imagine that if the only no added salt foods you provide are oatmeal and yogurt, and the person hates both oatmeal and yogurt, he will have a very sad breakfast.
Honestly, I don’t eat a lot of salt either but if someone ask me to cook with no salt I would serve him salad and beans with olive oil and citrus dressing with black pepper, no salt. And a side dish with sugar for taste if he wants to season salad dressing with sugar, I hope he is not allergic to sugar.
"Any ideas for something besides raw veggies and fruit (and even then, I think I have to watch for ones that don’t have/aren’t processed with sodium)? "
Honestly what’s wrong with vegetables and fruit? Why does everything need to be cooked and transformed? This is why America is fat – because heaven forbid someone just eat steamed broccoli or a fruit salad as a side dish.
Agree that the participant needs to clarify what the actual dietary requirements are. Nobody is allergic to salt; that would be like being allergic to water. (“No, really, I’m allergic to water! You have to serve me champagne!”)
How ridiculous have things become, with people expecting the universe to cater to their real or imagined dietary needs? If someone has a problem with normal food, they should bring their own or eat before/after the event. If someone pulled that “allergic to salt” nonsense with me, I’d just say, “Oh, I’m so sorry you won’t be able to enjoy the food. But we won’t have a problem with you bringing your own.” And if I had a food sensitivity or health-based restriction, I’d simply explain that no food need be provided for me and that I’d bring my own, without even going into the details; if the host offered to accommodate my needs, I’d say thanks and refuse the offer. I can see asking/allowing a close friend or relative to make accommodations, but someone providing meals at a conference? What ego, what nerve!
i kinda agree.
It’s already gluten & sugar free.
My experience had been that people who have strict restrictions on their diet just get used to bringing their own food or eating before hand. Possibly even trying a little and then dealing with it afterwards.
Even a big rock star with Crohns disease, ate a tiny piece of gluten filled birthday cake that I had made for him about ten yrs ago. ( I wasn’t really aware of all the restrictions). :">
You can make reasonable accommodations, but they can also select what to eat.
It’s for this reason that I’ve never been one to host big dinner parties. Too many different tastes, then add on all these food sensitivities, food allergies, and apparently now some imagined allergies, etc. and it really seems overwhelming. You either become a short order cook, or you feel inadequate or frustrated that all your hard work is not appreciated by your guests because they either don’t like the food or can’t or won’t eat it.
When I read the OP, I wondered if this person just isn’t on a sodium restricted diet, so he says he’s allergic to get the host to conform. As a nurse, I’ve done histories on patients who insist they are allergic to medications, but when you ask them what their reactions are to those meds, most of the time they are describing expected possible side effects, NOT allergic reactions.
Talked to the participant, who cannot tolerate sodium (gets ill) and is limited by her doc to 600 mg/daily. She was delighted with what food I had planned (I tend to cook for these things so that folks can add/subtract what they don’t like/can’t eat) and feels she can get what she need. There will be plenty there she can’t eat, but was happy to have salmon (with wine and lemon, so no special prep), various salad items with dressings on the side, and fruit platters.
