Back on the Menu

A collection of family favorites we've successfully adapted for a lower sodium lifestyle.

When my husband was first put on a low sodium diet, one of the hardest adjustments wasn't learning what he needed to eat; it was saying goodbye to many of the meals we loved.

As I searched for lower sodium alternatives, I began discovering products that I never knew existed. What started as a growing collection of grocery finds eventually became the Lower Sodium Product Guide.

But discovering these new ingredients sparked another idea: What if I could use them to recreate the meals we thought we'd lost? That's how Back on the Menu was born.

Every recipe in this collection began with a favorite that seemed out of reach because of its sodium content. Through research, experimentation, and plenty of trial and error, I've recreated many of those recipes using products featured in the Lower Sodium Product Guide.

I'm not trying to become the next great recipe website, and this collection will probably never include hundreds of recipes. I simply want to share what has worked for our family in the hope that it inspires you to bring a few of your own favorites back to the table.


Every person's health goals are different. The recipes shared here should always be considered alongside the recommendations from your healthcare team.

Lower Sodium Dill Pickles
Back on the Menu Peggy Blevins Back on the Menu Peggy Blevins

Lower Sodium Dill Pickles

Store-bought pickles were one of the biggest surprises after we started paying close attention to sodium. Depending on the brand, a single jar can contain 6,000–10,000 mg of sodium, putting one of our favorite toppings out of reach almost overnight…

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Lower Sodium Cheese Spread
Back on the Menu Peggy Blevins Back on the Menu Peggy Blevins

Lower Sodium Cheese Spread

I might have a cheese problem, and I'm perfectly okay admitting it. I love a good charcuterie board, and I've been known to joke that I should never be left unsupervised in the grocery store's cheese section.

It was a little heartbreaking to discover just how much sodium hides in so many cheeses…

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Bold Sloppy Joe Copycat Recipe
Back on the Menu Peggy Blevins Back on the Menu Peggy Blevins

Bold Sloppy Joe Copycat Recipe

We love to cook elaborate meals, but we love a good classic comfort food, too. One of our favorites is Sloppy Joes made with a well-known canned sauce. The bold version has the sweet, tangy, smoky flavor we love—but with 2,240 mg of sodium in a single can

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