Touro | Low-Salt Choices

Patient Education

Low-Salt Choices

Eating salt (sodium) can make your body retain too much water. Extra water makes your heart work harder. Canned, packaged, and frozen foods are easy to prepare. But they are often high in sodium. Here are some ideas for low-salt foods you can easily make yourself.

For breakfast

Fruit or 100% fruit juice. It's better to have whole fruit instead of 100% fruit juice.
Low sodium whole-wheat bread or an English muffin. Look for sodium content on Nutrition Facts labels.
Low-fat milk or yogurt
Unsalted eggs
Shredded wheat
Corn tortillas
Unsalted steamed rice
Regular (not instant) hot cereal, made without salt

Hand holding glass dish of yogurt and fresh berries.

Stay away from

Sausage, bacon, and ham
Flour tortillas
Packaged muffins, pancakes, and biscuits
Instant hot cereals
Cottage cheese

For lunch and dinner

Fresh fish, chicken, turkey, or meat—baked, broiled, or roasted without salt
Dry beans, cooked without salt
Tofu, stir-fried without salt
Unsalted fresh fruit and vegetables, or frozen or canned fruit and vegetables with no added salt

Stay away from

Lunch or deli meat that is cured or smoked
Cheese
Tomato juice and ketchup
Canned vegetables, soups, and fish not labeled as no-salt-added or reduced sodium
Packaged gravies and sauces
Olives, pickles, and relish
Bottled salad dressings