Low Sodium Fast Foods
Many people are unaware that low sodium fast food options are available. Fast food consumption is at an all-time high in today’s modern world. People eat fast food more frequently than before despite the mushrooming of low diet plans.
Fast foods such as burgers, pizzas, and unhealthy fries, are popular among the public because of their contents. They contain a high concentration of fats, sugars, and salt, which increase flavor and taste.
Most fast-food restaurants use salt to prepare their dishes, intensifying our desire to eat.The high salt intake intensifies the need for hydration, triggering people to purchase more unhealthy food and drinks. However, consuming too much sodium in foods, whether fast or other foods, is not healthy.
If you consume 2,000 calories per day, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that your salt intake should not exceed 2,300 mg of sodium.
It can be challenging to keep track of everything, especially if you are a fast-food fanatic, but you can enjoy low sodium fast foods as much as high-sodium diets.
Fast food is probably not the best option if you are looking for a low sodium meal.
However, suppose you have a limited number of options or are following a doctor’s prescription to keep off high sodium foods and do not wish to skip meals.
In that case, you must equip yourself with the relevant information before calling out for a delivery of a fast food meal.
Tips for Low-Sodium Fast Food Consumption
Even though finding low-sodium fast meal options can be difficult, it is not impossible.
More individuals are becoming aware of their health needs, prompting fast food businesses to adapt their menus to meet the needs of their customers and growing health awareness.
Today, fast-food restaurants add grain products with heart-healthy, lactose-free, and sugar-free alternatives to their menu items.
Low-sodium fast food options are also gradually becoming available at the top fast food businesses, such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Starbucks, and Subway.
Although existing low sodium fast food choices do not always match the FDA’s definition of ‘low sodium foods,’ the following tips can help maintain a healthy salt intake:
5 Tips for Low Sodium Fast Foods
1. Resist greasy toppings, such as salad dressings and spreads, and avoid side dishes. These are high in sodium, sugar, and calories, making them unhealthful choices.
2. Grilled, broiled, or baked meats are excellent choices.
Deli, fried, and breaded meat options may be enticing and appear delectable, but they contain higher sodium content than grilled, baked, or boiled meat options.
3. Stay away from super-sized food items. High levels of sodium, calories and unhealthy fat are present in “jumbo,” “super-size,” and “double” fast foods.
4. When dining out, you have little influence over your meal and its preparation.
Even though most drinks do not contain high sodium levels, drinking water instead of sugary drinks with your fast food is advisable.
5. If you are on a low sodium diet, it is advisable to conduct menu research in advance to identify low sodium fast food options.
Low Sodium Fast Foods You Can Prepare at Home
It is easier than you think to prepare a low sodium meal at home. Numerous salads and low-sodium vegan sandwiches that require little time and effort to prepare are fast foods you can prepare.
Home-cooked meals are convenient because they allow more control over sodium, sweetener, and fat concentration.
You must make a few simple adjustments to succeed in your low sodium fast food cooking at home.
- Always verify the health and nutritional value of the foods before you buy.
- Read the label to see how much sodium is actually in the products you are considering purchasing.
- You should reduce or eliminate processed, cured, and smoked meats from your diet because they contain a high salt concentration.
- Canned fruits and vegetables are very high in sodium, so go easy on them.
- Replace high sodium foods with fresh poultry and fish
- Use canned goods labeled as ‘low sodium’ or ‘sodium-free.’
- Carefully rinse the food ingredients before using them to help wash away some of the salt.
Low sodium recipes are becoming increasingly popular; thus, finding them online is simple. Below is a list of meals that are 300 mg or less in sodium and that you can prepare at home:
- Fish and Chips
- Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomato
- Homemade Mixed Vegetable Burgers
- Lemon Pepper Tilapia with Mushrooms
- Mixed Spice Burgers
- Roasted Chicken with Peppers and Tomato
- Whole Wheat Veggie Pizza
24 Low Sodium Fast Foods Options
There are many recipes and a lot of information readily available to assist you in maintaining a low-sodium diet without having to sacrifice flavor.
Prepare yourself with it; you will be ready to eat at home or out with friends and family.
However, If you are not ready to prepare homemade fast food, you can order delivery of the low sodium food options listed below.
1. Arby’s Jalapeño Roast Beef Slider (Without Cheese) 487 mg (1)
2. Au Bon Pain’s Greek Vanilla Yogurt and Blueberry Parfait 115 mg
3. Chick-fil-A Hash Browns (Small, 440 mg)
4. Chick-fil-A’s 8-count Grilled Chicken Nuggets (440 mg) (2)
5. Chick-fil-A’s Greek Yogurt Parfait with Granola (75 mg) (2)
6. Chipotle’s Burrito Bowl with Chicken & Fajita Vegetables (480 mg)
7. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Multigrain Oatmeal (270 mg)
8. Dunkin’ Multigrain Oatmeal (250 mg)
9. Five Guy’s Little Hamburger 380 mg
10. In-N-Out’s Protein Style Hamburger 370 mg
11. McDonald’s Bacon Ranch Salad 320 mg
12. McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal 140 mg
13. Panera’s ½ Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich + ½ Seasonal Greens Salad 470 mg
14. Panera’s Half-Size Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken 300 mg
15. Panera’s Steel Cut Oatmeal with Almonds, Quinoa & Honey 150 mg
16. Pizza Hut’s Veggie Lovers Small Thin’ N Crispy Slice 270 mg
17. Smoothie King’s Vegan Pineapple Spinach Smoothie 170 mg
18. Starbucks’ PB&J Protein Box 570 mg
19. Starbucks’ Protein Bistro Box 540 mg
20. Subway Tuna Salad with Lettuce, Spinach, Onions, Cucumbers, Olives, and Green Peppers 270 mg
21. Subway’s 6″ Veggie Delite 240 mg
22. Taco Bell’s Crunchy Taco with Beef, “Fresco Style” 270 mg
23. Taco Bells Hash Browns 270 mg
24. Wendy’s Baked Potato (With Sour Cream) 40 mg
Final Thoughts
High sodium fast food can cause diseases known to men, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and renal disease.
Despite numerous efforts to raise awareness of the potential and expected consequences of fast food’s effects on health, it is impossible to persuade people to stop eating fast food.
One possible solution is to make the foods healthier by reducing and advocating for low sodium consumption, even in fast foods.
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