The average American consumes around 3,400 mg of sodium per day, which is much higher than the USDA’s recommended maximum of 2,300 mg. The CDC links excessive sodium intake to elevated blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
A low-sodium diet can lower blood pressure, help manage fluid retention, and more. This diet typically calls for around 1,500-2,000 mg of sodium per day. Yet, whether you’re on a doctor-prescribed ban or simply trying to reduce your salt intake, it can be surprisingly difficult to find low-sodium meals that are both convenient and healthy.
Several meal delivery services offer heart-healthy menus that make dieting easier. These include meals that are low in salt, saturated fat, and more. To find out which ones are best for a low-sodium diet in particular, I’ve studied menus and ingredients and drawn on personal experience to help you ditch the salt without losing out on flavor.
Eat Clean takes my top spot thanks to its great range of low-sodium options. Each meal contains less than 500 mg of sodium. That said, each service on my list will help to keep you healthy, with low-sodium options for every taste, household, and budget.
Eat Clean meals start with high-quality ingredients. All its meals are crafted with premium proteins and organic produce and contain just 300-500 mg of sodium per serving. They’re crafted for active individuals and contain all the macros you need for a healthy lifestyle while maintaining a low-sodium diet.
You can eat a low-sodium diet without worrying about mundane or uninspired meals. Every week, Eat Clean gives you an international selection ranging from classic American and Italian recipes to Caribbean, Asian, and Latin American favorites.
The Signature Beef Italian Bolognese pictured above is a tasty, low-sodium meal. Made with grass-fed beef, whole wheat spaghetti, marinara sauce, and parmesan cheese, it clocks in at a modest 516 calories. You can choose between regular and large portions, which are about 50% bigger and have a higher calorie count for athletes seeking fuel for high-impact workouts.
Eat Clean is a convenient way to get healthy meals while you focus on your exercise. This is a must if you're embracing more physical activity while maintaining a low-sodium intake. We tested Eat Clean and were very impressed with the quality and convenience of Eat Clean Meals.
Every meal displays protein, fat, and carb counts prominently, so you’ll have no trouble keeping track of your macros. Unfortunately, Eat Clean doesn’t list specific sodium counts for each meal listed. But with all meals coming in at under 500 mg of sodium, you can feel secure making Eat Clean part of your low-sodium diet.
Eat Clean, like most prepared meal services, is best for singles and couples. If you want to eat healthier but are feeding a household, check out Green Chef or HelloFresh.
Menu options include Traditional, Keto, Paleo, and Plant-Based. You can select anywhere from 6 to 20 Eat Clean meals weekly. Prices start at $4.30 per serving.
Less than 600 mg of sodium per meal
150+ dishes on a rotating 6-week menu
Dietary options include keto, gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, and more
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BistroMD is one of my top choices for low-sodium meals. It’s a weight loss service and is particularly suited to those managing health conditions such as diabetes and menopause. Alongside its Signature plan, you’ll find programs such as Gluten-Free, Diabetic, Heart Healthy, Keto Flex, and Vegan to help you meet your wellness goals.
The Heart Healthy plan is the best low-sodium option, with less than 600 mg of sodium per meal. The dishes promise to help lower blood pressure and kick-start weight loss with options such as Italian-Style Omelet for breakfast, Jamaican-Style Black Pepper Shrimp (pictured above) for lunch, and Chicken Spinach Meatloaf for dinner.
The menu features more than 150 different meals, which rotate weekly. You can order up to 3 meals per day to ensure you’re covered from breakfast to dinner, with the option to add BistroMD EATS (Essential and Tasty Snacks) to your order. These could include anything from whey protein bars to granola and nut mixes, and from protein shakes to keto cheesecakes, to help accelerate your weight loss while supporting your heart health.
All of BistroMD’s menus fall within the USDA’s recommended daily sodium intake. This is around 2,000-2,300 mg of sodium each day. The service advertises that its meals are nutritionally-balanced and emphasizes that sodium is part of a balanced diet.
If you have particular needs, you can contact customer service to limit the sodium in your plan. This will remove dishes with higher-sodium ingredients (like soy sauce) from your menu. It can lower your daily intake to about 1,500 mg per day, but it will mean that your menu is less diverse.
The meals are delivered flash-frozen to preserve the nutrients, and every dish can be heated in the microwave and enjoyed in a matter of minutes. When we tested BistroMD, we were more than satisfied with the vast choice and were impressed that every meal was ready in less than 6 minutes with no cleanup.
BistroMD’s meals start at $5.50 per serving. You can order 2 or 3 meals per day for either 5 or 7 days a week. You’ll get the best value by selecting the full program, which gives you a night free to make your own healthy food choices.
Adjustable sodium levels with meal kits
Dietary options include vegetarian, calorie-smart, pescatarian, and more
HelloFresh’s thoroughly tested menu makes it ideal for children and picky eaters. This means that families seeking low sodium meals can find suitable options that cater to both adults and kids, ensuring a balanced diet for everyone. For customer favorites, just look for the Hall of Fame tag when browsing the menu.
HelloFresh doesn’t have a low-sodium plan, but almost its entire menu can be made low in salt since you have total control over the amount added when you cook. The ingredients are always fresh, seasonal, and sustainably sourced, and the recipes themselves are balanced. You can also check out this list of the Best HelloFresh Low-Sodium Recipes for a look at its most heart-healthy options.
You’ll find a range of meal preferences to choose from, though you’ll always have access to the wider menu whichever plan you pick at sign-up. These include Veggie, Pescatarian, Fit & Wholesome, Under 20 Minutes, and Family Friendly. The plans don’t necessarily correlate with sodium levels, but the Fit & Wholesome plan has more low-calorie and low-carb dishes.
The cuisine is generally American comfort food, with options like burgers and tacos. The large menu features internationally-inspired dishes as well, including a range of pastas and curries.