1) Food items which are not a product of the earth, such as meat, fish and cheese, etc., aren't included in the prohibition of ''Grinding''. 2) Some authorities rule that cutting vegetables is not considered ''grinding'' unless it's done very fine (See Igrot Moshe), and so it would be permitted to cut into larger pieces for a later meal. 3) The Rema 321:12 rules that it's permissible to cut fruits and vegetables (using a regular knife, not a specialized chopping knife) into very small pieces immediately before a meal. One may rely on this ruling in cases of necessity (See Mishna Berurah).

1) ''Me'abed'' - tanning (hides) is one of the 39 Avot Melachot (prototype prohibited activity), and is where salt (or a similar chemical) is used to improve the texture of the hides. Since salting is similar to ''Me'abed'' in that it can alter the quality or texture of a food, the Rabbis prohibited it (Rashi). The Rambam writes that salting is prohibited because it produces similar effects to the act of cooking (that is, changing the physical state of the food in some way). 2) In other words, it's allowed to salt one single piece of food at a time just before the meal (Mishna Berurah 321:14). 3) There are other authorities who permit salting foods like eggs or meat for a later meal to be eaten on the same day. The Mishna Berurah relies on this opinion in the case of hot weather, when the food will spoil if not salted.

דבר שהמלח פועל בו לרככו או להפיג חריפותו אסור למלחו משום דהוי כמו מעבד ולכן אסור למלוח ''גורקין'' קשואים מלפפונים חיין וכן צנון או בצלים אסור למלוח אפילו מה שצריך לאותה סעודה אלא מטביל במלח חתיכה חתיכה ואוכל אבל ביצים ובשר מבושל וכיוצא בו שאין המלח מועיל להן אלא שיתן בהן טעם מלח מותר למלחם לאכלם באותה סעודה אבל בשביל להניחם לסעודה אחרת אסור