Assault on salt
Reducing children's salt intake
Here are some suggestions to help you make sure your child doesn't have too much salt...
Babies
If you're breastfeeding, your baby will be getting the right amount of salt, and infant formula contains a similar amount of salt to breast milk. When you start introducing solid foods, remember the following...
- Don't add salt to any foods you give to young babies because their kidneys can't cope with it. The baby foods you'll find on sale aren't allowed to contain salt
- Limit foods which are high in salt such as savoury snacks, sausages and bacon
- Avoid giving your baby any processed foods that aren't made specifically for babies - such as pasta sauces and breakfast cereals - because these are high in salt
Children
Here are a few suggestions for tips on cutting down when you're buying or cooking food for all the family...
- When buying foods check the front of the pack traffic light label to see if a food is high (red) or low (green) in salt
- Use less salt in cooking - try mild herbs and spices
- Try to get out of the habit of adding salt to foods at the table - if parents add salt then children may well do the same
- Cut down on salty snacks such as crisps and nuts and other salty nibbles, instead try raisins, cherry tomatoes or crunchy carrot sticks
- Choose canned vegetables and pulses that are marked 'no added salt'
- Stock cubes are high in salt, so choose lower-salt versions, or make your own stock. You could try using different herbs and spices as an alternative for flavouring your cooking
