FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
First off, I want to say a huge “Thank you!” to all my fellow sojourners on this low sodium journey! I have enjoyed meeting you all at events and hearing from you here on Hacking Salt and on Social Media. I often get asked questions, so I thought I would take a moment here and answer a few of the most frequently asked questions that I get.
YOU HAD A HEART TRANSPLANT?
Yes. I was blessed to receive a donor heart on May 1st, 2014. In 2002, I caught a flu virus while travelling for business. Long story short, it weakened my heart to the point I needed mechanical assistance (an LVAD & an ICD/Pacemaker) and eventually a transplant. For the full story, you can go here. Also, please consider being an organ donor. A donor saved my life.
WHEN DID YOU START BEING LOW SODIUM?
In 2010. I knew I was going to have to be listed for a heart transplant. I needed to lose weight. I hated diets and knew I had to change my entire relationship with food to not only lose weight, but to protect the new heart I would hopefully someday get. It took me a year to really find my way to the realization that in order for this to become a lifestyle, I had to find ways to make my favorite dishes low sodium. I needed to hack the salt out of the recipes. I currently am on a recommended 1500 mg of sodium a day guideline. The USDA currently recommends 2300 mg for a healthy person.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND WITH FOOD, ARE YOU A CHEF?
No. I am not a chef. I am a passionate student of food and cooking. I do have 8 years of experience in the Bar & Restaurant Industry as a Waiter, Busboy, Bar Back, Bartender, and Manager. I have been blessed to have many chefs as friends and acquaintances over the years, and I do bug and bother them to help me with recipes, ideas and techniques, and you will see some of their recipes on this site that they have given me to share with you.
IS THIS YOUR FULL TIME JOB?
I wish. Maybe it will be someday, but for many years I have been in Marketing and Public Relations. My Wife and I own Sterling Cross Communications. Our firm works a lot with the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry, so I can leverage some of those relationships into gathering more recipes for Hacking Salt here.
DOES YOUR WHOLE FAMILY EAT LOW SODIUM?
When we cook at home, yes they do. As busy parents with three kids we will not cook separate meals, so everyone get the low sodium meals. If you come over to our house, you will be served them as well, especially if you are family! My recipes had to taste good to please many tastes. We are losing the salt from the recipes, not the taste! I knew I was on track when I did the entire Thanksgiving meal low sodium and nobody knew.
DO YOU TAKE REQUESTS FOR RECIPES TO HACK THE SALT FROM?
Yes. If you have an idea or need help to hack the salt from a favorite recipe, submit your request on the contact page here. Please allow 2-3 weeks for me to get through it. We hack the recipe in the test kitchen and typically create 2 or more versions to ensure we have the best tasting version.
CAN I USE YOUR PHOTO OR RECIPE ON MY WEBSITE OR BLOG?
Recipes – I will allow republication of my post or recipe text with prior consent. If you have a specific inquiry about a recipe, please feel free to contact me here.
Photos without recipes – Yes, if you Credit the photos with two links, one back to the recipe post and one back to hackingsalt.com.
DO YOU WORK WITH BRANDS FOR SPONSORED POSTS AND PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS?
I do if it has something to do with my low sodium, heart health, and healthy audience. I am always open to ideas, and you can contact me here. If you have a product you want me to review, test, consult on, or introduce to this audience, please get in touch with me here.