With the rise of childhood obesity, many kids have started getting diagnosed at an early age with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure. A common recommendation to avoid eventual complications of high blood pressure and other associated disorders is to follow a low-sodium diet. The low-sodium diet for kids is very similar to the low-sodium diet for adults, and if followed correctly, it can help with blood pressure control.
Benefits
A low-sodium diet for kids is a healthy, well-balanced diet which minimizes the intake of salty, processed, and low-nutrient foods. Most of the foods and beverages consumed as part of this diet will be nutrient-dense and will provide a substantial amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for development. The diet will also help children to develop healthy eating habits, which will persist into adulthood.
Types
There are several different low-sodium diets for kids. The most popular low-sodium diet is the DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, diet. This diet was developed to help control blood pressure in adults, but it is now commonly recommended to children. The American Heart Association also has a low-sodium diet that limits dietary sodium to no more than 1,500 mg per day. Their website describes this diet and also has helpful hints on how to keep your child's sodium intake low.
Appropriate Foods
Fresh and unprocessed foods are at the heart of the low-sodium diet for kids. Fresh fruits and vegetables, unprocessed or whole grains, and lean protein are all appropriate for this diet. Processes such as canning and freezing usually cause the food manufacturers to add salt to food products, so try to avoid canned or frozen items as much as possible. In addition, avoid putting a salt shaker on the kitchen table as a means of flavoring foods, and try using sodium-free spice and herb blends.
Nutrition Labels
A low-sodium diet for children will usually limit sodium intake to no more than 2,000 mg per day. In order to know how much sodium your child is consuming, it is helpful to read the nutrition labels of foods he commonly consumes. Remember to look first at the serving size because the sodium content of that food only pertains to that one serving size. Next, read the sodium line to find out how many milligrams is in that serving. If a food or beverage does not have a nutrition label, use an on-line calorie counter to estimate its sodium content.
Snack Ideas
Kids' snack foods are typically very high in salt, so changing these items can be difficult at first. Try offering your child low-sodium snacks such as light yogurt, low-sodium cottage cheese with fresh fruit, or unsalted trail mix. You can also purchase low-sodium peanut butter and spread it on a banana or celery. There are also a wide variety of low-sodium whole wheat crackers and low-sodium popcorn, which satisfy those desiring something crunchy.
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