Low Sodium Meal Builder

Plan and analyze your meals for sodium content. Designed for people managing blood pressure, kidney health, or general wellness. Supports metric (mg) units. All calculations run instantly in your browser—no data is sent anywhere.

Note: Educational tool only, not medical advice. Discuss dietary changes with your doctor or dietitian.

Meal Builder & Analyzer

Daily Sodium Target (mg)

Common targets: 1500 mg (restricted), 2300 mg (general limit), 3000 mg (moderate).

Display Precision

Add Food Item

Food Name

Sodium per Serving (mg)

Servings

Tip: Check nutrition labels for "Sodium" in milligrams (mg). Use a dot or comma for decimals.

Food Item	Sodium/Serving (mg)	Servings	Total Sodium (mg)	Action

Meal Analysis

Total Sodium (mg)

Sum of all items

2300

Remaining for Day (mg)

Daily target minus meal

% of Daily Target

Within target

Interpretation:

Add food items to see analysis.

Why Monitor Sodium Intake?

Excess sodium is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and kidney strain. Many processed foods contain hidden sodium. This tool helps you visualize the sodium content of combined foods, making it easier to stay within daily limits.

How to Use This Builder

Set your personal daily sodium target (mg).
For each food, enter its name, sodium per serving (from the label), and number of servings.
Click "Add to Meal". The table and totals update automatically.
Review the analysis: total sodium, remaining allowance, and percentage of your target.
Use the "Reset Meal" to start a new meal or day.

Example Meals

Breakfast Example

2 slices whole wheat toast (300 mg) + 1 tbsp margarine (150 mg) + 1 cup canned tomato juice (650 mg) = 1100 mg sodium (48% of 2300 mg target).

Lower Sodium Alternative

Oatmeal (5 mg) + banana (1 mg) + 1 cup low‑sodium vegetable juice (140 mg) = ~146 mg sodium (6% of 2300 mg target).

Common Sodium Ranges (per serving)

Food Category	Typical Sodium Range (mg)	Low‑Sodium Choice (mg)
Bread (1 slice)	150‑250	< 100
Canned Soup (1 cup)	600‑1,200	300‑500
Cheese (1 oz)	150‑400	< 100
Deli Meat (2 oz)	500‑1,000	200‑400
Frozen Dinner	800‑2,000	400‑600

Quick Sodium Lookup & Add

Select a common food to quickly add it to your meal. Values are approximate; always check your label.

Click any button above to add that item with 1 serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is this tool?

It calculates precisely based on your inputs. Accuracy depends on the sodium values you enter from nutrition labels or databases. Always verify with your specific product.

What's the difference between "salt" and "sodium"?

Table salt is sodium chloride. About 40% of salt's weight is sodium. So 1,000 mg of salt contains about 400 mg of sodium. Nutrition labels list "sodium," not salt weight.

What if I eat out or don't have a label?

Use estimates from the reference table or search for similar items. Restaurant meals can be very high in sodium (often 1,500‑3,000 mg per entrée). When in doubt, assume higher.

When should I seek professional help?

If you have hypertension, kidney disease, heart failure, or are on a medically‑required low‑sodium diet, work with a dietitian to create a personalized plan. Do not self‑prescribe extreme sodium restriction.

Formulas & Assumptions

Total Sodium = Σ (Sodium per Serving × Servings)
Remaining Sodium = Daily Target − Total Sodium
Percentage = (Total Sodium ÷ Daily Target) × 100
Percent bands: <75% = "Within target", 75‑100% = "Approaching limit", >100% = "Over target".
Numbers are rounded to the selected decimal places. Input parsing accepts both dots and commas as decimal separators.
Default daily target of 2,300 mg aligns with many public health guidelines.

Disclaimer: For informational and educational purposes only. Estimates depend on your inputs and simplifying assumptions. This tool is not medical advice and does not diagnose or treat any condition. If you have symptoms, abnormal readings, or urgent concerns, contact a qualified healthcare professional.

Common unit conversions and measurement best practices; Typical wellness metric ranges and public health guidance concepts; General nutrition and hydration guidance concepts.

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Low Sodium Meal Builder

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