And then they said 'watch the sodium'

There was a time in my life that I could eat almost anything . . . except chicken, turkey and lutefisk . . . and anything with feathers and fins!

I never worried about what I placed into myself — eat until full and a variety of food that included fried onion sandwiches and liver and onions.

It was all about taste, what I liked and the seasonings I placed on such food. I got along just fine, except for a time my weight began to fluctuate — and so it was time for a change.

But I never thought a popular seasoning would bring about a worry for me and my body until a few months ago when I was told, “Your body is ingesting too much sodium.” That’s the word “salt” for short.

Never did I ever think about using too much salt. Everything (most everything) I ate had to be salted before I even took a bite. If it was a hotdish, salt and pepper were added before I tried a bite. Gravy, potatoes, beef, hamburgers, fries and all else were doused with salt and or pepper before eating.

Not any more.

So now I am watching my sodium intake, pretty close, too. When the doctors said this was a problem, I wondered why, but took their word for it and now am feeling better. My body was producing too much water; thanks to the great amount of sodium I ingested.

Ever try eating something without salt or a very minimum amount? “Some food tastes like cardboard,” I said after eating without the use of very much salt.

Little did I realize just how many foods (usually off the shelf) are very, very high in sodium. Now I like a good bowl of tomato soup or chicken noodle or other canned foods. Nothing better than soup and a toasted or grilled cheese sandwich. Now, I have to take it easy and soup has been at a premium.

With that, I have been the chief grocery-getter for us this winter and have had a chance to view the many foods offered by the local grocery store. WOW, some foods are LOADED with sodium, and some which I kinda’ like and have ingested during my life.

But now, I read the labels, check the sodium content and am living without those foods which caused my problem.

So, with that I found a substitute for salt (not good, but will pass) and I’m taking pills advised by doctors to rid my body of excess water. It looks like the formula is working.

And while going through all of this, one thing I was cautioned about was not to drink too much water, coffee or sodas. That is (was) tough since I like water, (good, cold water) and spend time daily at our water cooler here at the office chugging it down.

(Now that really didn’t make much sense, advised to rid my body of excess water and yet needing my daily water fix, but I am surviving that ordeal, too).

Never in my lifetime did I figure salt would be a problem of mine. But now I know, too much will send one to medical experts in an attempt to cure the problem.

So far, what I am doing now is working.

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I kept away from watching the Super Bowl last Sunday which meant I didn’t imbibe in chips, dips, soft drinks, crackers and other salty objects as the game progressed.

Actually, I watched an old movie or two and didn’t even know who won the game until I channel surfed and found members of the Rams saying, “We’re going to Disneyland.” Those were the key words, as they have been for the past Super Bowls.

I have a hard time believing the amount of money spent on that one game. The television commercials at an enormous cost per time slot, the cost per ticket just to come and sit down to watch the game and the price of food inflated to a large amount, points to ridiculous.

All of which made the old movie The Sound of Music and a bit of Gunsmoke, all the better for me and my salt-free diet.

But darn, I was kinda’ rootin’ for the Bengals. They did it the old-fashioned way. They built their team over the past years.

And no, I don’t think the Vikings or Packers will be in the big game next year, either.

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If you live here in the city or just passing through the past few years, you may have noticed all of the campers being towed along highways 52-281-200 coming from the south and headed north.

Most of them have destinations in Canada. But it seems it takes a little more time now since the pandemic has arrived.

I saw in the paper at Kenmare, unvaccinated drivers from the U.S. can not enter Canada because of a mandate and must unhook their camper load at Carpio near the border.

From there, vaccinated Canadian drivers are pulling the campers into Canada for delivery to dealerships.

The campers are made in Indiana.

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Today, my son came to me and gave me a hug, out of the blue. I was very pleasantly surprised, that is until I heard him tell his father, “You’re right. She did gain weight.

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Parting Shot: Attitude is everything. Pick a good one!