Low sodium diet (1989)
Key points below
A lower sodium diet has been recommended for your child. Sodium is a mineral that is in many foods. Table salt is the most common form of sodium. See the chart below for sodium recommendations by age. This amount may or may not be appropriate for your child. Discuss specific limits with your healthcare provider.
Age and amount of sodium per day
2 to 3 years - Less than 1,500 mg/day
4 to 8 years - Less than 1,900 mg/day
9 to 13 years - Less than 2,200 mg/day
14 years and older - Less than 2,300 mg/day
The Nutrition Facts label can help you figure out how much sodium is in each serving of a food.
The nutrition information is based on the serving size. You must look at the serving size on the first line of the food label. You will need to figure out the amount of sodium your child eats based on how much of the food they eat.
For the label on the right, if your child eats:
½ cup of the food, they get 300 mg sodium.
¼ cup of the food, they get 150 mg sodium.
1 cup of the food, they get 600 mg sodium.
Tips for eating less sodium:
- Stop using the salt shaker. Take it off the table.
- Cook more meals at home. Restaurant food has more sodium.
- Use fresh fruits, vegetables and meats when possible.
- Do not use salt in cooking and baking.
- Use spices, herbs, lemon, and oils to flavor foods.
- Limit packaged and processed foods at home (ex. frozen chicken patties/nuggets, frozen pizza, canned soups, boxed pasta meals). These have a lot of sodium.
- Beware of meats that say “contains a sodium solution to improve flavor”. This adds sodium.
- Limit condiments like ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce. These add sodium.
| Food category | High sodium | Lower sodium |
|---|---|---|
| Meat/protein | Ham, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunchmeat, canned meats, salted nuts and nut butters, canned and smoked fish | Fresh meat and poultry, eggs, unsalted beans and legumes, unsalted nuts and nut butters, fresh fish, tuna packed in water |
| Dairy | Cottage cheese, American cheese, cream cheese, yellow aged cheeses, buttermilk | Milk, yogurt, white cheese (Swiss, mozzarella) |
| Vegetables | Canned vegetables, canned tomatoes and tomato sauce, frozen vegetables in sauce, salted fried vegetables, sauerkraut | Fresh or frozen vegetables, “no salt added” canned vegetables, unsalted French fries |
| Fruits | None |
All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits |
| Boxed or frozen entrees or sides | Meat pizza, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, pizza rolls, pocket sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, Ramen noodles, skillet meal kits, rice or pasta with seasoning mixes, soup, canned ravioli and spaghetti | Cheese pizza, homemade chicken nuggets, pasta or rice with salt-free seasoning (do not use seasoning packet in boxed meals), |
| Grains and snacks | Instant hot cereal, salted popcorn and chips, salted crackers | Unsalted popcorn and snack chips, cooked hot cereal, cold cereal |
| Seasoning, sauces and condiments | Soy sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, steak sauce, MSG, marinade, gravy, pickles, olives | Jam, jelly, honey, butter, margarine, syrup, white and brown sugar, mayonnaise, fresh herbs and garlic |
Use the list below to make better choices in each food category:
Even small changes can be made to decrease sodium in your diet. The simple swaps shown below make a big difference.
| Higher sodium choice | Sodium | Lower sodium choice | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheeseburger w/ ketchup and pickles | 725 mg | Hamburger w/ ketchup | 490 mg |
| Pepperoni and sausage pizza slice | 1710 mg | Cheese pizza slice | 590 mg |
| Bologna w/ American cheese sandwich | 1260 mg | Turkey Breast w/ swiss sandwich | 670 mg |