Rocky Mountain Ear Center

Low Salt Diet

 

 

General Rules:

These are guidelines. Please check labeling on all foods.  Some foods are in the omitted column but come in low salt varieties. 

  1. All food is prepared and served without salt.

  2. Salt substitutes may be used.  Use substitute without potassium added.

  3. Avoid bacon fat.  Broiled meats contain less sodium than fried or roasted ones, provided the pot liquor is not consumed.

  4. You may eat unsalted nuts an unsalted popcorn.  The corn my be popped dry or with one of the unsalted fats. 

  5. Avoid pretzels, potato chips, pickles, olives and all other salted or spiced foods. 

  6. Aim for less than 2000 mg salt per day.  

 

FOODS ALLOWED:    FOODS LIMITED:
 
Limit to 3 (three) cups  Milk
Eggs
 		 Eggs fried in bacon fat

Beef, lamb veal, pork, liver, poultry, fish and oysters.

Baked or broiled.  

 Meat, Fish or Poultry

Smoked, salt cured and other processed meats such as ham, bacon, salt pork, sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, salt fish, canned meat and fish, bouillon, meat extracts, shell fish, peanut butter, brains and kidneys. 
Low sodium cheese Cheese

All cheese including:  Cottage cheese and cream cheese.
 

Cheese, Cream and Egg Sauces                                                

Sauce All other types.

Low sodium bread (Mrs. Wright), low sodium crackers, matzo and butter.  Jam and Jelly may be used.
 

 Bread and Crackers Salted crackers, pastries, biscuit and pancake mix.  Self rising flour, pretzels and bagels.

Fresh or frozen.  Canned if prepared without salt.
 

 Vegetables           Canned prepared with salt.  Avoid sauerkraut.

Fresh, frozen and canned                                     
 

 Fruits                      

Puffed rice or wheat.  Shredded wheat.  Unsalted cooked cereals.  (Not instant)
 

 Cereal                    Avoid all cereals not listed.  All instant products.

White and sweet potatoes, rice, spaghetti, noodles, and macaroni                                           
 

 Potato or Substitute Potato chips and potatoes fried in salted fats.

Unsalted broth, low salt soups (400-500 mg/serving)
 

 Soups                    Canned soups and soup made with salt.

Tapioca, custards, plain puddings, ice cream using milk or egg allowances, gelatin desserts made with plain gelatin.

fruits and juices, sherbets. 

Desserts                               Prepared gelatin dessert.  i.e. Jell-O

Unsalted butter and margarine, low sodium salad dressings.                                                                        

                                                                                                               

Fat                           Bacon fat and other meat drippings.  salted butter, margarine, salad dressings and mayonnaise.

As desired.                                                            
 

 Sugar                      

Carbonated beverages, decaffeinated tea or coffee.  Coffee substitutes, fruit juices or milk drinks.
 

 Beverages            Canned juices containing salt (Tomato, V-8)

Allspice, bay leaf, caraway, cinnamon, curry, garlic, juice, mace, dry mustard, nutmeg, paprika, pepper, sage, thyme, turmeric, vinegar, extracts.  Salad dressings (Safeway Select non-fat)                                                                      

 Condiments         Salt, ketchup, celery salt, garlic salt, onion salt, meat lemon flavoring (Worcestershire, kitchen bouquet, A-1), soy sauce, prepared mustard, horseradish, gravy, chile, pickles, olives, caviar, relish and salsa.
 

If not high in sodium (some Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine)
 

 Frozen Foods TV dinners, sandwiches, etc.
  Eating Out              All fast foods, Chinese, Italian and Mexican foods.