Whether youre living with heart failure or not, its important how much sodium certain foods contain. Heres a quick glance of some more popular foods. Note These are ranges. The sodium content in certain food items may vary. Food. Serving Size. Milligrams Sodium. Protein. Bacon. 1 medium slice. Chicken dark meat3. Chicken light meat3. Egg, fried. 1 large. Egg, scrambled with milk. Dried beans, peas, or lentils. Haddock. 3 oz cooked. Halibut. 3 oz cooked. Ham roasted3. 5 oz. Hamburger lean3. Hot dog, beef. Peanuts, dry roasted. Pork loin, roasted. Roast lamb leg. 3. Roast veal leg. 3. Salmon. 3 oz. 50. Shellfish. 3 oz. 10. Shrimp. 3 oz. 19. Spareribs, braised. Steak, T bone. 3. Tuna, canned in spring water. Turkey dark meat3. Turkey light meat3. Dairy Products. American cheese. Buttermilk, salt added. Cheddar cheese. 1 oz. Cottage cheese, low fat. Milk, whole. 1 cup. Milk, skim or 11 cup. Swiss cheese. 1 oz. Yogurt, plain. 1 cup. Vegetables and vegetable juices. Asparagus. 6 spears. Avocado. 12 medium. Beans, white cooked. Beans, green. 1 cup. Beets. 1 cup. 84. Broccoli, raw. 12 cup. Broccoli, cooked. Carrot, raw. 1 medium. Carrot, cooked. 12 cup. Celery. 1 stalk raw. Corn sweet, no buttersalt12 cup boiled. Cucumber. 12 cup sliced. Eggplant, raw. 1 cup. Eggplant, cooked. Lettuce. 1 leaf. 2Lima beans. Mushrooms. 12 cup raw or cooked1 to 2. Mustard greens. 12 cup chopped. Onion, chopped. 12 cup raw or cooked2 to 3. Peas. 1 cup. 4Potato. Radishes. 10. 11. Spinach, raw. 12 cup. Spinach, cooked. 12 cup. Squash, acorn. 12 cup. Sweet potato. 1 small. Tomato. 1 medium. Tomato juice, canned. Fruits and fruit juices. Apple. 1 medium. 1Apple juice. Apricots. 3 medium. Apricots dried1. Banana. Cantaloupe. 12 cup chopped. Dates. 10 medium. Grapes. 1 cup. 2Grape juice. Grapefruit. 12 medium. Grapefruit juice. Orange. 1 medium. Orange juice. 1 cup. Peach. 10. Prunes dried1. Raisins. 13 cup. Strawberries. Watermelon. 1 cup. Breads and grains. Bran flakes. 34 cup. Bread, whole wheat. Bread, white. 1 slice. Bun, hamburger. 12. Cooked cereal instant1 packet. Corn flakes. 1 cup. English muffin. 12. Pancake. 1 7 inch round4. Rice, white long grain. Shredded wheat. 1 biscuit. Spaghetti. 1 cup. Waffle. 1 frozen. Convenience foods. Canned soups. 1 cup. Canned and frozen main dishes. Continued. Once you know how much sodium foods have, the next step is building a diet around that knowledge. Heres some information to get you started. Protein. You should have two or three servings of protein each day. But how much is a serving Dairy Products. Two or more servings a day is the sweet spot here. Examples of a serving include 2 3 ounces of low sodium cheese. Vegetables and Fruits. Your goal here is five servings per day. One could contain 12 cup chopped, cooked, frozen, or canned fruit. Bread and Grains. You should get six or more servings of these every day. One equals 1 slice low sodium bread, 1 small low sodium roll, 12 low sodium bagel. Low sodium crackers read label for serving sizeSweets and Snacks. Everyone needs a snack every now and then. Make sure its every now and then, and choose 2 12 ounces unsalted nuts. Italian ice. 1 ice pop. Fats, Oils and Condiments. Use these as much as you can. Vinegar. Lemon juice. Herbs and spices without salt. Use these only when you have to. Olive and canola oils. Low sodium butter and margarine. Low sodium soups. Low sodium salad dressing. Homemade gravy without salt. Low sodium broth or bouillon. Low sodium catsup. Low sodium mustard. Low sodium sauce mixes. Continued. Need help putting a menu togetherHeres one to get you started. Breakfast. Fresh fruit. Low sodium cereal hot or coldMilk. Lunch. Lean roast turkey on whole wheat bread with low sodium mustard. Raw carrot sticks. Applesauce. Milk. Kiwi Smoothie here. Vanilla wafers. Dinner. Grilled chicken. Boiled potatoes. Steamed fresh vegetables. Tossed salad and low sodium dressing. Fresh melon. Snacks. Fruit. Walnuts or almonds. Raisins. Yogurt. Cooking Tips. Use fresh ingredients or foods with no added salt. For favorite recipes, you may need to use other ingredients and delete or decrease the salt added. Salt can be removed from any recipe except from those containing yeast. Avoid convenience foods such as canned soups, entres, and vegetables, pasta and rice mixes, frozen dinners, instant cereal, and puddings and gravy sauce mixes. Select frozen entres that contain 6. Check the Nutrition Facts label on the package for sodium content. Use fresh, frozen, no added salt canned vegetables, or canned vegetables that have been rinsed before they are prepared. Low sodium canned soups may be used. Avoid mixed seasonings and spice blends that include salt, such as garlic salt. Before using a salt substitute, check with your doctor. Salt Substitute Seasonings. Cutting down on salt doesnt mean your food has to be bland. There are healthy blends you can make at home. Directions Combine all ingredients in small bowl and blend well. Spoon into shaker. Store in a cool, dark place. Spicy Blend. 2 Tbsp dried savory, crumbled. Tbsp dry mustard. Salt less Surprise. Herb Seasoning. 2 Tbsp dried dill weed or basil leaves, crumbled. Tbsp onion powder. Pinch freshly ground pepper. Spicy Seasoning. 1 tsp cloves. Tbsp rosemary. Continued. Restaurant Dining Tips. Eventually, youll eat at a restaurant. You dont have to fall off the wagon. There are choices you can make for every course. Appetizers. Select fresh fruit or vegetables. Avoid soups and broths. Stay away from bread and rolls with salty, buttery crusts. Salads. Select fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid pickles, canned or marinated vegetables, cured meats, seasoned croutons, cheeses, salted seeds. Order salad dressings on the side and use small amounts of them. Main Courses. Select plain foods including broiled, grilled or roasted meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish. Select plain vegetables, potatoes, and noodles. Ask the server about the low salt menu choices and ask how the food is prepared. Request food to be cooked without salt or monosodium glutamate MSG. Avoid restaurants that do not allow for special food preparation such as buffet style restaurants or diners. Avoid casseroles, mixed dishes, gravy, and sauces. Avoid fast food restaurants. Avoid salted condiments and garnishes such as olives and pickles. Desserts. Select fresh fruits, ices, ice cream, sherbet, gelatin, and plain cakes. Sources. SOURCE Food Values of Portions Commonly Used, 1. Bowes Church. 2. Web. MD, LLC. All rights reserved.