Need help staying under sodium intake but...

niki108

I also need to eat more calories. I was eating 1000-1200 calories a day but I recently found out I should be eating about 1600 calories and to stay under 1500 mg of sodium to lose weight. I am finding it very hard to make meals and staying under the limits. Anyone have suggestions?

Heatherbelle_87

using olive oil to cook with will add calroeis without sodium. You can have roasted nuts as a healthy snack instead of salted. Look for low-sodium version of some of your favorite foods. Avoid crackers and flavored cheese spreads. ( I say cheese spreads because when you make a chees soft and add extra things to it, it officially becomes a spread even if its natural)

niki108

Bump

niki108

Found recipes on the Mrs.Dash website!

Rilke

Feel free to check out my diary for ideas. These days I usually eat about 1900 cals and set my sodium limit at 1800 mg.

ChristyP0303

Found recipes on the Mrs.Dash website!

Anything processed is going to be high in sodium. Also eating out is way high! Really have to go with fresh foods and fresh seasonings. Also, anything reduced fat or fat free is going to have more sodium. They just replace the calories/fat with other things that are worse for you. I have found that is isn't the calories I have a problem with, it's the sodium. So I buy the real thing.

I also agree with looking for lower sodium versions of your normal foods. I buy the lower sodium bacon, frozen veggies instead of canned (if I can't buy fresh). Just shop around. I found the normal ranch dressing I was buying had 450mg sodium! After I compared to other brands, I found one with almost half as much. (Wish Bone). Also the same with peanut butter crackers. It will take you longer at the store in the beginning, but once you get down which products to buy, it will get easier.