Glossary · Food categories
Sodium (children)
The part of salt that food labels list as sodium, and young children need far less of it than adults. Babies need no salt added to their food, and most of the salt children eat comes from bread, cheese, processed meats and ready-made foods.
In the first year
Babies need very little salt, and in practice that means adding none to their food: no salt in the cooking water or purée, and no stock cube or gravy in your baby's portion. Flavor is still welcome. Garlic, herbs, cumin, cinnamon, paprika and a squeeze of lemon all belong in baby food.
Where salt hides
Almost nobody salts baby food on purpose. Salt sneaks in through foods that were salted before they reached your kitchen. The usual sources aren't off limits forever; the trick is not to build whole meals around them.
- Bread, crackers and breakfast cereals.
- Cheese.
- Ready-made sauces, stock and gravy.
- Sausage, ham, bacon and other processed meats.
- Takeout, ready meals and condiments.
Reading the label
On many labels, salt is listed as sodium. You don't need to do math in the aisle. Compare two similar products and pick the one with the lower sodium number. Breads, cereals and canned beans vary a lot from brand to brand. For canned beans and vegetables, look for "no salt added" and rinse them before serving.
Cooking for the whole family
After the first birthday a little more salt is fine, but toddlers still need far less than adults. Cook the family meal without salt, take your child's portion out, then season the grown-up plates at the table. Keep a salt shaker on the table instead of salting the pot.
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References
Related terms
Miriel uses this concept across food scans, meal plans, and AI Coach responses where it is relevant to a child's profile. For the underlying clinical and scientific basis, see the research page.