<p>I work with this population, and the transition is not easy to low fat, low salt. Soups low sodium are not easy. Unless motivated, they tire of poultry and fish. </p>
<p>Pork tenderloin might be a good way to go, low fat and can be marinated in a number of ways to maximize flavor. Google recipes.</p>
<p>Sometimes all you can hope for is a step in the right direction. It is kind of you to try. 
I think that a lot of the time simply not eating processed/fast food cuts sodium enormously.</p>
<p>I agree that it is very hard for some people to change and it has to come from them. I have seen a concerned wife carefully prepare meals while the patient went out for fast food whenever she was away. You might save yourself time and effort by just taking them some nice produce from time to time. A basket of gala/fuji apples might be eaten and appreciated more than a casserole.</p>
<p>Thanks for the thoughts. I like the pork tenderloin idea. I will definitely bring them some fruit, including clementine oranges (I know the wife like them). Probably also some a frozen fish in parchment package / sauce that looked to be in spec. </p>
<p>Any other foods to suggest? I bought some low fat peanut butter before realize it may not be allowed due to sodium.</p>
<p>You are a wonderful friend. Maybe this site [A</a> Veggie Venture: Easy-Easy Healthy Holiday Appetizers: Party Rye with Tomato & Cucumber 
](<a href=“Easy-Easy Healthy Holiday Appetizers: Party Rye with Tomato & Cucumber ♥”>Easy-Easy Healthy Holiday Appetizers: Party Rye with Tomato & Cucumber ♥) will help. It list the nutritional info and eating more vegetables has to be a good idea.</p>
<p>Thanks Moreover - that looks good…</p>
<p>I went to visit. and the patient is home (on oxygen) and doing well. I brought the meal to accommodate her low sugar/carb diet as well as his low fat/salt diet. Phew… he can have 2000mg sodium/day. That’s not too hard, if they avoid processed food. Based on my recent review of food labels at the grocery store, I can see why most American including myself probably go beyond the RDA (I think 2400 mg). </p>
<p>Hmm… they turned down my fresh green beans …but it looks to me like they are low in sodium. Here’s a comprehensive list I just found - [Sodium</a> Content in Foods](<a href=“salt substitute AlsoSalt”>Sodium Content in Foods)</p>
<p>I have found that it is relatively easy to go low fat and low cholesterol, but the sodium is the really tough part. I am stricter than AHA on fat/chol/sod, though, and limit my sodium to 1400 mg/day (in consultation with the nutritionist at my cardiac rehab). Sodium is in almost everything – cheese, spaghetti sauce (but tomato paste is low), low fat turkey breast, bread… You are right that processed food is a big problem for folks who are watching carbs, sodium, etc. </p>
<p>I avoid foods that have more than 150 mg sodium in one serving – because two slices of whole wheat bread with chicken salad (low fat mayo, dried cranberries, celery seed) turns into 1/3 of my daily quota in no time flat. It is hard for folks to change – my DH desperately needs to change what he eats (Type II diabetes, overweight, massive stress and works 70 hrs/week), and just won’t go there – despite what he has seen me go through in the past six months.</p>
<p>I think it is particularly difficult for TII diabetics to change what they eat because the nutritional establishment and the ADA works against us, giving people a convenient out.</p>
<p>“But the ADA says that it is fine to have an HBA1C of 6.5 or 7!” “But the ADA says that I ought to eat a low fat diet based on ‘healthy whole grains’ and it is just fine if my BG is 165 2 hours after a meal!” “Nutritionists say it is fine to eat 45 gms of carb per meal!”</p>
<p>Diabetes educators know that most people will not be compliant, and so they give up in advance. It’s a vicious circle.</p>
<p>Thank doG, I seem to be one of those people who does not react to salt. If I had to cut that out too there would be little reason to live.</p>
<p>Aren’t most of the pork tenderloins in packages in grocery stores injected with salty broth like butterball turkeys? I know I can’t buy one that isn’t prepackaged at the regular stores.</p>