Question:
Need suggestions on sugar free low sodium foods

My father in law had a heart attack, and can now only eat sugar free low carb, low sodium food. For his birthday I wanted to make a basket putting those kinds of foods and low sodium products in it. Does any one have suggestions on where I can buy stuff to fill the basket up with. Also Im looking for a sugar free cake. I can not find the receipe forum and I need it by Sat or Sun. Thanks so much for your time.    — Geralyn (posted on June 9, 2005)

June 10, 2005
Hello, Initially I thought, "oh, you should buy him an air popcorn popper and some topppings." But then I re-read it and saw the low carb bit. But if he can eat popcorn in moderate, an airpopper will give you great popcorn that is low fat (because its not cooked in oil). Some good popcorn toppings: garlic powder, onion powder, nutritional yeast, cinamon/nutmeg & splenda, parmesan cheese, cayenne pepper.. etc. There are a variety of "healthy" butter products that come in sprays, sticks, tubs, powder (butter flavor). Is your father in law also on a low fat diet? Here are two webpages with lots of links to sugar free cake recipies: http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,sugar_free_cake,FF.html http://www.pastrywiz.com/archive/category/sugarfree.htm The website below offers a variety of pre-made sugar free cookies and cakes. Maybe a gift certificate would be nice? http://www.sussies.com/sugar_free.asp You could also get him a sugar free low carb/low sodium cook book and create a basket full of common ingredients from the book such as splenda, nut flours, soy flour, etc. Additionally, you can go to any store with a decent candy section (supermarket, pharmacy, wal/k/mart) and find lots of sugar free candies. Jelli Belli makes SF gourmet jelly beans. Hershey also has several sugar free products out. A word to the wise: if you are eating sugar free products, they are often sweetened with sugar alcohols (very different from the drinkable alcohol), you have to be careful and not eat too much because the sugar alcohols can cause gas, diahrea, and other unpleasant GI effects. On the other hand, the SF candy with sugar alcohol (at least to me) taste the same as the regular stuff. Best wishes, Sid
   — mrsidknee