Select fruit canned in its own juice or water, not heavy syrup, and frozen fruit without added sugar.
Buy fresh vegetables
tomatoes
broccoli
frozen vegetables without added salt, butter or sauces
spinach
canned vegetables low in sodium
Look for low-fat, fat-free or reduced-fat milk, buttermilk, cheeses, yogurt and sour cream.
Aim for whole-grain and low-fat varieties of bread, bagels, pitas, cereal, rice, pasta, crackers and tortillas.
Almonds
walnuts
get the unsalted or low-salt varieties
Lean meats, poultry and fish
extra-lean ground beef
fish, skinless chicken and turkey
round or sirloin beef cuts
spices
Herbs
olive oil
salsas
Nonstick cookware can reduce the need to use oil or butter when sauteing meat or vegetables.
A vegetable steamer insert that can fit into the bottom of just about any saucepan can help you prepare steamed vegetables without any butter or oil.
fresh peppers
spices
onions
garlic
herbs
lemons
sodium-free bouillon
garlic powder
Rinse canned foods
Beware of broth
Saute onions, mushrooms or other vegetables in water or a little low-sodium broth
Use lower fat dairy products
Prepare stews and casseroles with only two-thirds of the meat the recipe calls for, adding extra vegetables, brown rice, tofu, bulgur or whole-wheat pasta instead.
Experiment with spices, substitutions or recipes you wouldn't normally try