Sodium intake in children
Ranked #3,341 in Healthy Living, #64,867 overall
Why should children lower their daily sodium intake
Most popular children's foods like pizza, mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets and ramen noodles contain too much sodium. Infact some contain more than half the daily recommended intake of sodium!
High sodium diets can cause high blood pressure even in children. Often these high sodium foods are high in calories as well.
Salty snacks tend to make a child thirsty so he is more likely to drink juice or sugar-sweetened soda with it and add even more calories to his diet. These kind of unhealty eating habits lead to obesity in children.
Besides harming the heart, high sodium intake in children can cause ulcers, kidney stones, and stomach cancer.
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So where is the salt / sodium coming from?
Most foods contain some sodium in their natural state. But most of the sodium in American diets comes from sodium added to the processed foods.Think hot dogs, lunch meats, bacon, ham, sausage, salad dressings, tomato sauces, canned and instant soups, pickles, potato chips, pretzels, rice mixes, etc.
Fast food or dining out? Check the menus and nutrition facts before ordering from a restaurant.
Here is an example of a common kids menu item from a restaurant that serves organic fruits and vegetables as sides:
The turkey and cheese sandwhich on wheat bread has a sodium content of 1117mg that is 47% of the daily value!!.
Some over-the-counter medications may contain sodium too. Read labels carefully. Look for the warning statements to see if the medications contain sodium. When in doubt ask your pharmacist or doctor.
How to have a low sodium diet?
- meat tenderizer
- seasoned salts
- sauces like chilli sauce, soy sauce
- bouillon cubes
- when preparing ramen noodles use only half of the seasoning
- Make your own chicken and vegetable broths.
- Buy low-sodium canned foods. But keep in mind that a "reduced sodium" product does not alway mean it is low in salt. Read the labels to find out the sodium content on those products. Buy canned and frozen food with no salt added and add just enough table salt to bring out the taste. Another way to reduce the sodium content in canned foods is to drain and rinse foods like corn, beans, tuna, etc before cooking or serving.
- Did you know? Bread is one of the most common source of sodium in childrens' diet. Try whole wheat / whole grains breads. These kind of breads will also help increase the daily fibre intake which is essential in a child's diet.
- Switch to low sodium lunch meats and cheese. Choose the 100% natural lunch meats that do not have any sodium nitrites and nitrates added.
- Beware of salt in cereals. Some cereals contain as much salt as potato chips! Buying cereal for children is not easy and finding the right one that is low in sugar, high in fiber, a good source of energy and one that appeals to the child makes it even harder. So when comparing the nutrition facts don't forget to check the sodium content.
- Try low salt, reduced salt, or no-salt-added condiments. Serve yoghurt or low sodium peanut butter as dips
- Switch to low salt snacks. Fruits are veggies are the best snacks!
- Hold the salt shaker.
- Season the french fries that you just baked with granulated garlic instead of the table salt.
- Scrambled eggs for breakfast? Season with black pepper only.
- Roasting potatoes for dinner? Try Mrs. Dash seasonings.
Books for a lower sodium diet
Win the war on fat and sodium
Learn how to make simple food changes for a healthier life
Its your call
Should we wait for the government to take action or should we as parents educate ourselves and boycott these high sodium foods
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byThe government / FDA should intervene!!
mypotlpeople says:
I think the answer is both. The government should try to limit the amount of sodium that goes into products but at the end of the day parents are buying the food and it is up to them to make the best choices.
Posted March 12, 2011
spunkyduckling says:
Call them! Obesity is way out of hand and we need all the help we can get!
Posted November 01, 2010
As a parent I want the best for my child. If I don't buy, the food manufacturers will not make these high sodium foods
cffutah says:
never wait for the government to do anything, take it upon oneself and parenthood.
Posted October 08, 2011
termit_bronx says:
I think it's the parents responsibility to learn and educate children about high sodium foods. They are our children and it's up to us to educate them about these things
Posted August 03, 2011
Pastiche says:
I take responsibility for my family's food choices. I appreciate FDA label information as it helps me determine whether I will buy a product or not. I avoid processed foods in general, and don't cook with much salt unless it's necessary (ie for baking). We need to manage our diets carefully and not eat so many unnecessary chemicals, fats and sodium.
Posted May 06, 2011
joseph7384 says:
The FDA is a joke, they allow a lot of garbage but they deny some of the organic medicines.
Most foods have natural sodium in them and that's good enough for me.
Joseph
Posted March 21, 2011
happynutritionist says:
Parents are responsible for raising their children and teaching them what and how to eat, the FDA etc., may provide some helpful tools and resources, but the government can never replace a good parent. Blessed and added to http://squidoo.com/nutrition-angel.
Posted March 01, 2011
Low salt cookbooks from the American Heart Association
Read the latest news on sodium content here
- On sodium, Ontario MDs pick up where the feds left off
- The purpose is to drive change through public education and working with the food industry to implement lower sodium levels in processed and packaged foods. While the organization doesn't have the power to legislate action or create regulations for the ...
- Eat fresh and avoid excess sodium for your heart's sake
- ?This provides more potassium, which is associated with lower blood pressure,? Arnett says. ?Fresh is the best source for fruits and vegetables, but canned versions can provide nutrition.? The primary drawback to canned and frozen foods is added sodium ...
- American diet high in sodium, study shows
- According to multiple studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ?About 90 percent of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet.? The majority of foods with high sodium content are pre-packaged and ...
Health and Nutrition Lenses
Healthy recipes for lower sodium intake
- Low sodium Chinese Fried Rice
- Quick and easy way to serve vegetable to your family.
- Baked chicken
- Low-sodium lemon baked chicken - Cooks.com
- USDA calls for dramatic change in school lunches - USATODAY.com
- The government is calling for dramatic changes in school meals, including limiting french fries, sodium and calories and offering students more fruits and vegetables.
- Rosemary Salt | al.com
- I wish you could smell my office right now. I just photographed the rosemary salt for this article and my office smells heavenly. I have some dear sweet friends at church that I adore. J.H. and Ann are most precious folks you'll ever meet. Always with a smile and encouraging word to share. We discus
Low sodium food
Share your tips and quick recipes for a low salt diet
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Carla
Nov 5, 2011 @ 12:57 am | delete
- Sodium is a source which has pros as well as cons of taking it. So we should take it in a recommended quantity. High number of Sodium in your daily use may cause blood pressure issues to your body. Healthy supplements like whey protein powder supplements & fish oil should also be taken in a limited manner.
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cffutah
Oct 8, 2011 @ 6:31 pm | delete
- great lens, enjoyed the duel question too. Agree with your thoughts on watching what our kids eat. Gave your lens a 'thumbs up'!
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WhiteOak50
Aug 19, 2011 @ 10:29 am | delete
- Very informative page, thank you for sharing it on my Ezekiel Low Sodium Bread page!
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KANEsUgAr
May 26, 2011 @ 3:07 pm | delete
- I read the Ingredients of everything before i buy it, especially sodium levels.
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sdtechteacher
Apr 21, 2011 @ 3:23 pm | delete
- You make a good point that salty foods make kids want to drink more sugary beverages. Good info here. Thanks.
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From the web : Recommended daily sodium intake
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Disclaimer
All content on this lens is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician on any health related issues.
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