Low Sodium Frozen Diet Foods
How much salt are you taking in your diet?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, every day, the average American consumes more than 3,400 mg of sodium.
For healthy people, this is 1,000 mg above the USDA daily recommended intake and approximately 2,000 mg above the Health Experts Recommendation for optimal heart health.
Following the National Institutes of Health recommendations, healthy adults should take no more than 2,300 mg of salt per day (approximately one teaspoon). At the same time, the average American consumes five or more teaspoons every day.
The use of excessive sodium increases your chances of developing high blood pressure and heart disease.
While ingesting less salt is advisable for persons already diagnosed with high blood pressure or heart disease. A low sodium diet can also benefit people who do not already have these diseases.
Since blood pressure tends to rise with age, lowering sodium consumption may be critically relevant for older persons.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, lowering daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg decreases blood pressure more than the recommended 2,300 mg.
Sodium is a vital mineral the body needs for some of its most critical functions. It is a mineral found naturally in some plants and added to foods.
Too much sodium in the body can lead to renal failure and other kidney diseases.
An impaired kidney also leads to fluid retention in the body, resulting in cardiovascular diseases such as a weakened heart due to clogged arteries, stroke, and even LDL cholesterol.
What Are The Sources Of High Sodium Content?
When some people hear of high sodium intake, the first thing that comes into their minds is the kitchen salt or the saltshaker.
On the contrary, you are likely consuming more sodium than you realize from many other sources besides your home-cooked meals.
More than 75% of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from restaurants, highly processed and refined foods, and prepackaged diets such as frozen foods.
Sodium is a preservative, thickener, and taste enhancer commonly used in processed foods. High quantities of sodium are evident in meals that do not have a salty flavor.
What Should You Look For In Low-Sodium Diet Frozen Foods?
The days of boring, flavorless, and unhealthy TV meals are over.
In today’s world, frozen foods are a terrific place to seek quick and easy meals that you can keep on hand for those times when you are not in the mood to cook or when you are short on time.
The sodium, saturated fat, and calorie content of frozen meals are high. However, if you shop wisely, you can find some delicious dinnertime classics in the freezer section of your local supermarket.
When shopping or calling for low-sodium frozen food delivery, you must know that not all frozen meals are the same.
Depending on the brand, a single frozen pizza slice can contain between 370 and 730 milligrams of salt and more than 300 calories.
Many meals have higher levels of sodium and fat than you should consume in a single day. The things to look for are:
- Avoid Meals with added sugar and a high-fat content
- Dietary meals high in vegetables and whole grains will keep you fuller for more extended periods and have excellent nutritional value.
- Frozen meals that contain below 600 mg of sodium, just fewer than 500 calories, and less than 3 grams of saturated fat
- Be careful with using salt, sodium bicarbonate, sodium nitrite, sodium benzoate, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). They contribute to the sodium content in a meal.
- Keep an eye out for “empty calories,” which are meals that are low in protein, vitamins, and minerals, among other things.
- Low-sodium variants with less than 300 mg of sodium per serving and fewer than 500 calories
- Before buying, check the nutrition facts to avoid consuming sodium hidden in processed and frozen foods.
Top Picks Of Low-Sodium Diet Frozen Diets
- Vegetables
You can have as many frozen vegetables as possible as long as they do not contain any sauces. Take frozen leafy greens, peppers, cauliflower, etc.
- Fruits
Many fruits contain low-sodium content, and you enjoy different frozen varieties without worrying about a spike in sodium levels. Some fruits to include in your frozen diet are apples, pears, berries, bananas, etc.
- Lean Animal proteins
The following lean animal proteins are not only nutritious, but they will not spike your sodium levels. Frozen beef, pork, lamb, fish, chicken, turkey, shrimp, crab, lobster
- Soups and broth
Enjoy frozen low-sodium homemade and commercial soups and broths. Be sure to check the label for the sodium content.
Some soups you can add to your diet include any soup that does not give you gas, chicken soup, chicken and rice soup, minestrone, and chicken noodle soup.
- Protein shakes with frozen fruits.
- Frozen egg muff
- Frozen meatloaf
- Frozen lasagna
- Frozen low-fat meatballs
- White chicken chili
- Frozen breads-banana, pineapple, apple, or pumpkin bread. You can also enjoy frozen carrot cake.
- Ground chicken or ground beef shepherd’s pie
- Frozen beef, turkey, or chicken pot pies
24 Healthy Low-Sodium Diet Meal Options
If you do not feel like making homemade frozen meals, you can call for a delivery of the following healthy options.
- Amy’s Light in Sodium Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada
Low Sodium Frozen Diet Foods
- Amy’s Asian Noodle Stir Fry
- Caulipower Spicy Chicken Tenders
- Celentano Roasted Vegetable lasagna
- Gardenburger Meals Meatless Citrus Glazed Chicken with green beans and rice
- Healthy Choice Cajun Shrimp and Chicken
Low Sodium Frozen Diet Foods
- Healthy Choice Mushroom Roasted Beef
- Ian’s Fish Sticks Family Pack
- Ian’s French Toast Sticks
- Jafflz Enchilada
Low Sodium Frozen Diet Foods
- Lean Cuisine Glazed Chicken
- Lean Cuisine Pepperoni Snack Pizza
- Lean Cuisine Salmon with basil
- Lean Pockets Philly Steak and Low-Fat Cheese with Grilled Vegetables
- Luvo Organic Roasted Eggplant and Quinoa Burrito
- Luvo Steel Cut Oatmeal with Quinoa and Mixed Fruit
Low Sodium Frozen Diet Foods
- Michelina’s Budget Gourmet Chinese Style Vegetable & Chicken w/ rice
- Michelina’s Lean Gourmet Chicken Alfredo Florentine
- Seeds of Change Chicken Teriyaki
- Smart One’s Rigatoni with Broccoli and Chicken
- Sukhi’s Samosas and Chutney
- Trader Joe’s Thai Sweet Chili Veggie Burger
Low Sodium Frozen Diet Foods
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Tandoori with spinach
- Whole Foods’ 365 Organic Quinoa with Vegetables
Final Thoughts
Consuming a low-sodium diet does not mean you cannot enjoy the most delicious and flavorful dishes.
You can choose to buy commercially frozen low-sodium ready-made frozen meals or freeze ingredients for tasteful homemade meals.
When purchasing your frozen meals, you have to be careful about the ingredients and nutritional values to determine if the diet contains what you require for good health.
Low Sodium Diet for Hypertension