Benson’s Table Tasty

I love this Benson’s seasoning, and it is always in my cupboard. I add it to homemade dressings, pickled creations, eggs, vegetables, and all kinds of everyday dishes when I want more flavor and that extra yum without sodium or potassium chloride. It is also wonderful to bring to restaurants for plain grilled proteins and steamed vegetables.

View on Amazon

I’ve bought the 2 lb bag on Amazon for years, but it’s unavailable there right now, so you can get it straight from Benson’s.

Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Organic raw ACV has been a constant throughout my cirrhosis journey. When I removed salt from my diet, I longed for foods with more intense flavor, and this became one of my favorite ways to add that bright tang back in. I also like having a tiny sip with water, or after meals for digestion support, and during times when my liver swelling or ascites felt especially overwhelming, I found that tiny sip especially helpful. I use a variety of vinegars for extra zing, but for me, ACV has remained the most beneficial one to keep on hand.

My mornings start with it too. I drink half a glass of water, then pour a little apple cider vinegar, cayenne and lemon juice into a tiny bowl that holds only a couple of tablespoons, and drink it. Then I finish the water to hydrate my body for the day.

MicroIngredients Organic Non-Fortified Nutritional Yeast Flakes

This is the non-fortified nutritional yeast I prefer. I sprinkle it on vegetables for that little non-dairy cheesy deliciousness, and I also use it to thicken dressings, sauces, and my evening homemade soup for extra body, protein, and added goodness. It is one of those simple pantry helpers that makes wholesome meals more flavorful and more satisfying.

Anthony’s Fortified Nutritional Yeast Flakes

This is the fortified nutritional yeast I use when I want that extra B vitamin boost, especially in my Embrobi Egg Mash. I add it to my hard-boiled egg, avocado, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, broccoli sprouts, Benson’s, home-pickled habaneros, and other flavor-packed goodness for a savory, nourishing start to the day. It is such an easy way to add cheesy-tasting flavor along with a little extra nutritional support.

MicroIngredients Organic Stevia Extract

Sugar is hard on the liver, especially for us with cirrhosis, and many “diet” sweeteners are not a good answer either. Even many stevia packets contain fillers that are not ideal for the gut microbiome, which is one more reason I was so excited to find this pure organic stevia extract from the stevia leaf. This 8 oz bag has about 1,418 servings, so only a tiny amount is needed — which makes it a long-lasting little sweetness helper in my kitchen.

Chicken of the Sea Low Sodium Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon

This is a nice, quick afternoon protein boost. When I want extra protein, I have an extra hard-boiled egg, some chicken, or one of these 2.5 oz pouches, and this one is the quickest. Be sure it says Low Sodium. The regular pouch looks almost the same.

Carrington Farms Organic MCT Oil

I like a little under a teaspoon of this in my morning organic coffee. MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides) are absorbed more easily than regular fats because they don’t need bile, so they can be easier to digest, and the body turns them into quick energy. I notice that little energy boost too.

This one used to be at my Walmart store, but now I find it on Walmart.com.

So Delicious Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk

This is my milk. I’m lactose intolerant, so it goes in my coffee, it’s the base of my salad dressing with chia seeds plumped right in it, and it’s what I use for chia pudding. It comes in a box and doesn’t need the fridge until I open it, so it’s easy to keep several on hand.