Dietary Guidelines

Dietary Guidelines for daily sodium intake for Adults and Children are as follows:

Adults: 1500 to 2300 mg per day (about a teaspoon) Children 4-8 yrs: no more than 1200 mg per day.
Children 9-18 yrs: no more than 1500 mg per day.

Ten of the Saltiest KIDS Meals in America

  1. Red Lobster: Chicken Fingers (1,320), Biscuit (350),

  2. Fries(740), Raspberry Lemonade (20) 2,430 mg 1.0

  3. Chili’s: Country Fried Chicken Crispers (1,600), Rice (660), 1% Milk (125) 2,385mg 1.0

  4. KFC: Popcorn Chicken (850), Macaroni & Cheese (880), Teddy Grahams (95), 2% Milk (180) 2,005 mg 0.9

  5. Jack in the Box: Chicken Strips Grilled (630), Buffalo Sauce (840), Fries (380), 1% Milk (130) 1,980 mg 0.9

  6. Olive Garden: Chicken Fingers (940), Fries (880),

  7. Raspberry Lemonade(15) 1,835 mg 0.8

  8. Burger King: Chicken Tenders (730), Buffalo Sauce (360), Fries (salted) (590), 1% Milk (130) 1,810 mg 0.8

  9. Sonic: Grilled Cheese (1,014), Tator Tots (527), 1%

  10. Milk (210) 1,751 mg 0.7

  11. Denny’s: Little Dipper Sampler (1,200), Ranch

  12. Dressing (189), Goldfish Side (260), Lemonade (38) 1,687 mg 0.7

  13. Taco Bell: Bean Burrito (1,240), Cinnamon Twists (200), Mountain Dew Baja Blast (70) 1,510 mg 0.6

  14. Arby’s: Jr. Roast Beef Sandwich (740) , Curly Fries (548), 2% Milk (116) 1,404 mg 0.6

Good Alternative Low Sodium Kids Meal Options

  1. KFC: Grilled Drumstick (200), 3" Corn on the Cob (0), Mott's Apple Juice (10) and Teddy Grahams (95) - 330 calories and 305 mg sodium

  2. Denny's: Flying Saucer Pizza (470), Anti-gravity Grapes (0), Cranberry Juice (0) - 537 Calories and 470mg Sodium

  3. Dairy Queen: Hamburger w/apple sauce (690), Orange Juice (0) - 620 Calories and 690 mg Sodium

  4. Chili's: Little Mouth Burger (420) Mandarin Oranges (10), Apple Juice box (6) - 610 Calories and 436 mg Sodium

  5. Burger King: Macaroni and Cheese (340), Apple Fries w/caramel Sauce (35), Minute Maid Apple Juice (15) - 330 Calories and 390 mg Sodium

  6. Subway: Roast Beef Mini Sub (600), Apple Slices (0), Minute Maid Apple Juice (20) - 345 Calories and 620 mg of Sodium

  7. Olive Garden: Spaghetti & Tomato Sauce (370), 2% Milk (130) - 350 Calories and 500 mg of Sodium

  8. McDonald's: Hamburger (520), Apple Dippers (0), Caramel Sauce (35), Apple Juice Box (15), 445 Calories and 570 mg of Sodium

  9. Panera: Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich (410), Organic Yogurt (40), Orange Juice small (0) - 590 Calories and 450 mg of Sodium

  10. Taco Bell: Crunchy Taco (350), Cinnamon Twists (200), Mango Strawberry Frutista Freeze (10) - 570 Calories and 560 mg of Sodium