U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Be Salt Smart

Be Salt Smart

Download PDF

Healthy eating is important at every age. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Start with these tips:


Read the label

The Nutrition Facts label shows you how much sodium is in packaged foods. Choose lower sodium foods – especially if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease.

Eat fruits and veggies

Enjoy a variety of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables – almost all of them are naturally low in sodium. Look for canned vegetables labeled “no added salt.”

Look for cue words

Items that are “pickled,” “brined,” or “cured” tend to be high in sodium. Include these foods in your meals sparingly.

Put together meals at home

Making your own meals gives you more control over the salt you eat. Taste your food before adding salt from the shaker.

Go easy on the sauce

Be mindful of how much sauce, gravy, salsa, ketchup, soy sauce, marinade, or dressing you're using. The sodium from these can add up quickly.

Spice it up

Flavor your foods with fresh or dried herbs and spices instead of salt. Pick spice blends that do not list salt or sodium on the ingredient list.

The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite.

Image
Shop Simple home screen on a phone

Shop Simple with MyPlate

Find savings in your area and discover new ways to prepare budget-friendly foods.

Learn more

Image
Alexa Speakers and Devices

MyPlate on Alexa

Get MyPlate nutrition tips on Amazon Alexa devices or the free Alexa app.

Learn more

Image
Start Simple app on phone and watch

Start Simple with MyPlate App

Build healthy eating habits one goal at a time! Download the Start Simple with MyPlate app today.

Learn more

Image
logo for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

MyPlate.gov is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025