At the Restaurant

• Thinking of eating out? Choose a restaurant where the food is made to order, instead a buffet-style eatery. Look for Health Check™ items in participating restaurants.
• Going for ethnic? Foods such as Italian, Asian or Mexican, often have lots of sodium.
• Eating at a fast-food restaurant? Ask for the nutrition information and choose items lower in sodium.
• Know the terms that indicate high sodium content: pickled, cured, smoked, soy sauce, broth.
• Thinking of ordering soup? Make another choice since most soups are higher in sodium.
• Choosing a sauce or salad dressing? Or order sauces and salad dressing “on the side” and dip your fork in the side dish before you spear your food with the fork.
• Ready to order? Request that food be prepared without salt, soy sauce or MSG.
• Visiting the salad bar? Avoid bacon bits, cheese, and croutons.
• Choosing a salad dressing? Ask for oil and vinegar or lemon juice.
• Choosing a potato? Order a plain baked potato rather than French fries.
• Reaching for the salt shaker? Taste your food before adding salt.
• Thinking of visiting a restaurant for the third time this week? Make a simple meal at home instead.

Links:

HealthLinkBC: Low sodium diets: eating out