Around town

Where to shop

Stores Donna already knows, with the aisle notes that matter.

• Highland · 510 Kings Highway

  Brookshire’s on Kings Hwy

  Handy if you’re by Centenary. Ask at the meat case for fresh chicken breast that isn’t “enhanced” — that word usually means salt water. Produce is solid; skip the Tony’s endcap.

• Southern Hills · 388 W Bert Kouns

  Brookshire’s on Bert Kouns

  Good stop off the loop. Grab no-salt-added vegetables and unsweetened almond milk. Leave the rotisserie chicken unless you’ll peel the skin and eat a small piece of breast.

• West Shreveport · 3705 Jewella Ave

  Super 1 on Jewella

  Easy on the wallet. Frozen vegetables with no sauce, store-brand almond milk, white rice, and oats. Read the meat labels — “flavor injected” is salt.

• Near the river · 745 Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy

  Super 1 on Shreveport-Barksdale

  Quick if you’re heading toward Bossier. Same hunt: no-salt cans, plain rice, chicken breast, berries.

• Youree Drive · 6652 Youree Dr

  Kroger at Bayou Walk

  Look for the “low sodium” and “no salt added” stickers. Simple Truth unsweetened almond milk and no-salt canned goods are worth hunting. Youree is also where the Tony’s display will try to follow you home.

• E Bert Kouns, just off Youree

  Walmart Supercenter

  Best for bulk rice, oats, rice cakes, olive oil, and lemons. Big brands love phosphate additives — flip every carton and skip anything with “phos” in the ingredients.

Aisles worth a second look

• Meat. Fresh chicken breast and white fish. Skip “enhanced” or “flavor-injected” poultry — that is salt water. The rotisserie bird at Brookshire’s is only a maybe if you peel the skin.
• Cans. Look for “no salt added.” Regular soup, beans, and tomatoes are usually a skip. Super 1 store-brand is fine if the label is clean.
• Dairy case. Unsweetened almond, rice, or oat milk. Flip the carton. If you see “phos” in the ingredients, pick another brand.
• Spice rack. Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, thyme. Leave the green Tony’s can and the salt substitutes on the shelf.

Eating out in town

You can still sit down. You just order a little differently.

• The sentence that works in this town

  “No salt, please. Grilled, not fried. Sauce on the side. Unsweet tea or water.” Say it once, clearly. Most kitchens on Youree, 70th, and Kings Hwy will do it.

• Kings Highway

  Herby-K’s

  The Surprise po-boy is a skip — fried, salty, and dressed. If you’re with family, get grilled fish or shrimp, no dressing, lemon on the side, and leave the bun if it’s a lot of bread.

• Kings Hwy · the icebox-pie place

  Strawn’s Eat Shop

  The strawberry icebox pie and the bacon plate are skips. Eggs, white toast, and unsweet tea can work. Don’t let the pie case talk you into “just a sliver.”

• Youree Drive

  Superior Grill

  Mesquite-grilled chicken or fish, skip the chips and salsa, skip the salted margarita rim. Ask for no seasoning salt on the grill. Green salad with oil and vinegar, not ranch.

• Bert Kouns

  Copeland’s

  Gumbo, etouffée, and fried seafood are skips. Grilled chicken or fish, plain rice or a baked potato you don’t eat the skin of, vegetables with no butter bath.

• Crawdaddy’s, Fertitta’s, Cane’s, Popeyes

  Crawfish, muffulettas, and fried-chicken chains are red lights. Save the boil and the combo meal for a talk with your dietitian — not a Thursday on Youree.

• Church, potluck, and the Fair

  Louisiana State Fair hits town in October. Potluck tables are ham, beans, banana pudding, and salty casseroles. Eat a piece of grilled meat and a roll if you need to be polite, then go home to your own plate. You do not have to finish Mrs. So-and-so’s pie.