A low-sodium diet or salt restriction may be used to help prevent or reduce fluid retention in your child's body. The amount of sodium or salt allowed in your child's diet depends on your child's medical condition. Your child's doctor or dietitian will determine the amount of sodium allowed in your child's diet. This is usually expressed in milligrams (mg) per day. Some common sodium restrictions include 2,000, 3,000, or 4,000 mg per day. With most sodium-restricted diets, high-sodium foods are limited and salt is not allowed in food preparation or at the table.
The following low-sodium seasonings may be used more freely than those that are high in sodium:
The following seasonings are high in sodium, but can be used in limited amounts.
The following recommendations may help to reduce the amount of salt in your child's diet:
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Type of food
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Allowed
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Foods to avoid
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Milk, yogurt, cheese
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Whole, 2 percent, or skim milk
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Cottage cheese, regular hard cheeses, tofu
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Puddings, custards, ice cream
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Meat, fish, poultry
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Fresh or frozen meats, poultry, fish
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Low sodium canned tuna or salmon
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Dried beans and peas
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Soybean or vegetable protein
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Peanut butter
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Salted or canned meats, fish (sardines, herring, anchovies), or poultry
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Lunch meats (bologna, ham, corned beef)
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Cured meats (ham, bacon, sausage)
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Hot dogs, dried beef, jerky
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Commercially frozen entrees
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Kosher-prepared meats
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Fruits
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Vegetables
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Starches, breads, cereals
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Potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, rice
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Unsalted potato chips, low sodium pretzels, unsalted crackers, unsalted popcorn, and nuts
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Whole-grain and enriched breads
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Pancakes, muffins, French toast, waffles, biscuits, cookies, cakes
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Whole-grain and enriched cooked or commercially prepared dry cereals
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Potato chips, slated snack foods or pretzels
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Commercially prepared rice and noodle mixes
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Salted breads, rolls and crackers
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Salted popcorn and nuts
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Miscellaneous
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Chocolate, cocoa, horseradish, herbs and spices, such as onion powder, fresh garlic, garlic powder, celery seed
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Flavorings such as vinegar, lemon juice, Tabasco
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Low-sodium condiments and seasonings, such as Mrs. Dash, Nu-Salt, Morton's Lite Salt, NoSalt
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Ketchup, chili sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard, gravy (limit to 1 Tbsp per day)
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Low-sodium canned soups, homemade soups
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Commercially prepared meat sauces
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Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
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Onion salt, garlic slat, celery salt, seasoned salt
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Olives, pickles
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Relish, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce
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Dehydrated soup or bouillon, canned soups
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Fats
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Butter, margarine, lard, shortening, vegetable oil, mayonnaise
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Salad dressing (limit 1 Tbsp per day)
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Salt pork, bacon fat, fat back
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More than 1 Tbsp. salad dressing per day
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