Module 2 Pull Down Navigation - Select a Page to View ------------------- Introduction What is a Low-Sodium Diet? How Do I Follow a Low-Sodium Diet? Step 1: Stop Adding Salt to Food Step 2: Adapt Your Preferred Foods to Low-Sodium Versions Step 3: Pick Foods Naturally Low in Sodium Step 4: Learn to Read Food Labels Reading a Food Label for Sodium Content Other Tips to Help You Get Started Tracking the Sodium in Your Diet Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Nurse Questions and Answers About a Low-Sodium Diet Low-Sodium Spices, Herbs, Seasonings and Condiments High-Sodium Spices, Herbs, Seasonings and Condiments Foods with Less Than 10 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 10 to 40 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 40 to 65 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 65 to 120 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 120 to 175 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 175 to 350 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 350 to 500 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 500 to 800 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with More Than 800 mg of Sodium Per Serving Examples of Low-Sodium Foods Examples of High-Sodium Foods High-Sodium Foods and Low-Sodium Alternatives Examples of Sodium Content of Fast Foods Learn More About Heart Failure

Tracking the Sodium in Your Diet

To find out, how much sodium you are eating keep a record of everything you eat and drink for four days. Do not forget to include snacks.

You can use a chart similar to the one at the bottom of this page to track what you eat.

A full-page version of the chart can be downloaded and printed in PDF format here.

If you don't know the sodium content of a particular food, write down the food anyway. Your nurse or dietitian will work with you to estimate the sodium content. You can also look up the sodium content of foods on the Internet.

Add up the amount of sodium you ate each day. If you find that you ate more than 2,000-3,000 mg of sodium each day, look at each item on the list to figure out which foods caused the trouble. Think about where you might be able to cut down on sodium.

You can also review the list of what you ate with your nurse, doctor or dietitian to find out how your sodium intake compares to what is best for you.

Tracking the Sodium You Eat

Keep a record of everything you eat and drink for four days of typical eating. Review your chart with your nurse or dietitian to be sure that you are not consuming too much sodium.

Download and print this chart in PDF format here.

	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4