Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on TwitterFunctional FoodThe 5 Best Low-Sodium Meal Delivery Services To Limit Your Daily Salt Intake
mbg Deputy Commerce EditorBy Braelyn Woodmbg Deputy Commerce EditorBraelyn Wood is the Deputy Commerce Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University, along with a certificate in marketing.Image by PeopleImages / iStockOur editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may earn a small commission.June 2, 2022
In This Article
1What is a low-sodium diet?2How we picked3Our picks4Who needs a low-sodium diet?
Sodium is essential for our bodies and crucial for a range of functions, like electrolyte balance and nutrient absorption and transport. All foods contain the macromineral, but the optimal amount needed for each body differs.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, but those with high blood pressure or heart and kidney failure may benefit from even less, aka a low-sodium diet.
When following a low-sodium diet, it's best to make a majority of your meals at home with whole foods. More than 70% of sodium consumed by Americans comes from prepackaged meals, processed foods, and restaurants, according to a study published in Circulation, a journal by the American Heart Association (AHA).
An easy way to stick to your sodium limit is by investing in the best low-sodium meal delivery services. Whether you want to improve your culinary skills with a meal kit or save time with packaged entrees prepared with minimal salt, these services make it a breeze for you to limit your sodium.
Quick List:
Best meal kit:Sunbasket Best prepared:Fresh n’ Lean Best plant-based:Veestro Best for busy schedules:Splendid Spoon Best for seniors:Magic Kitchen
What is a low-sodium diet?
There's no clear definition of what constitutes a low-sodium diet, but a common target is between 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day. The exact amount will depend on your personal needs, but it's important to remember the body needs an estimated 500 milligrams of sodium per day to function, per the AHA.
For our breakdown, we considered a low-sodium entree one with less than 600 milligrams per serving. While some meal delivery companies set their own limits for sodium intake, this filter allows us to recommend brands that may not directly feature low-sodium options but still cater to this way of eating.
How we picked:
Quality
We focused on brands that use high-quality ingredients, ideally organic or locally sourced.
Sodium
Each highlighted company offers a variety of meals with less than 600 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Price
Food budgets differ, so we provided a range of options to suit different allowances.
Sustainability
We vetted each brand's commitment to staying green, including their packaging and shipping methods.
mbg's pick of the best low-sodium meal delivery kits of 2022:
Best meal kit: Sunbasket
SunbasketVIEW ON Sunbasket
Pros:
- Mostly organic
- New menu weekly
Cons:
- Prep needed
- Shipping fee
Type: Meal kitDietary Needs: Allergen friendly, Low-sugar
Get all the ingredients needed for a low-sodium meal for up to four family members delivered weekly with Sunbasket. The meal delivery kit gives you even more control over your meals, allowing you to omit ingredients with too much sodium as you cook.
Unfortunately, the brand doesn't have a dedicated low-sodium plan or meal filter. However, the site allows you to scan nutrition labels as you build your box. Another way to bypass salt-heavy meals: Skip to the diabetes-friendly meal plan, which restricts sodium to 700 milligrams.
Example meals:
– Lettuce-wrapped turkey burgers with green goddess dressing and lentil salad (280 mg)
– Herbed chicken thighs with "cheesy" broccoli and tomato-pesto relish (460 mg)
– Seared pork with blueberry-apricot sauce and sautéed greens (105 mg)
Sustainability & quality: Sustainable agriculture is just as important to Sunbasket as environmentally friendly packaging. The brand sources organic and local produce and supports regenerative agriculture practices—so you get quality you can trust.
Cost: From $11 per serving for meal kits
Best prepared: Fresh n' Lean
Fresh n' Lean VIEW ON Fresh n' Lean
Pros:
- No prep
- Never frozen
- Fits range of diets
Cons:
- Needs nutrition label vetting
Type: Fresh mealsDietary Needs: Gluten-free, Organic, GMO-free, Dairy-free, Low-fat
Whether you're following a keto diet or sticking with a fully plant-based regimen, Fresh n' Lean has you covered. Its lineup of fresh entrées are made from scratch with an average of 600 milligrams per serving—so you can consume breakfast, lunch, and dinner without hitting your daily sodium limit.
Crafted by professional chefs, these prepackaged meals are entirely gluten-free and delivered fresh. Simply pop in the microwave or oven for a speedy reheat, and prepare to enjoy a variety of nutritious recipes.
Example Meals:
– Chimichurri braised beef with brown rice and veggies (510 mg)
– Lentils and herb roasted potatoes with remoulade sauce (470 mg)
– Romesco salmon with cauliflower and sweet potatoes (470 mg)
Sustainability & Quality: Expect whole, organic foods in every meal with the service's entirely GMO-free menu. The brand links with suppliers who practice humane animal treatment and make note of sustainably sourced seafood, such as shrimp and salmon. Each single serving arrives in a BPA-free and recyclable tray.
Cost: From $8 per serving
Best plant-based: Veestro
VeestroVIEW ON Veestro
Pros:
- Fully prepared
- No commitment
Cons:
- Frozen
- Needs nutrition label vetting
Type: Frozen mealsDietary Needs: Gluten-free, Vegan, Organic, Dairy-free
Most traditional frozen entrées from the grocery store are chock-full of sodium and other processed ingredients, but Veestro's plant-based range offers a healthier alternative. While you'll have to scan the nutritional labels to ensure you're selecting low-sodium items, there are dozens of entrées available with less than 600 milligrams of sodium.
Many meals also come with the sauces separate, providing additional ways to cut back the amount of excess salt for stricter diets. Plus, the brand offers a small breakfast menu, so the plan can cover three meals a day.
Example Meals:
– Golden chickpea stew (330 mg)
– Mushroom risotto (420 mg)
– Eggplant casserole (415 mg with sauce)
Sustainability & Quality: Veestro promises 96% organic ingredients in every order with additional filters for soy-free, kosher, and nut-free meals. Every meal arrives in a recyclable carton or BPA-free tray, while the starch insulation can be dissolved in water.
Cost: From $8 per serving
Best for busy schedules: Splendid Spoon
Splendid SpoonVIEW ON Splendid Spoon
Pros:
- 100% recyclable packaging
- Fast shipping
Cons:
- Lots of packaging
Type: Fresh mealsDietary Needs: Gluten-free, Vegan, GMO-free, Dairy-free, Low-sugar
Choose from a preset plan or curate your own box of meals from Splendid Spoon's fully vegan lineup. The sippable smoothies are the perfect match for busy mornings spent in traffic, while the noodle bowls make a satiating veggie-based lunch.
If the overall convenience of grab-n-go is worth it for you, you'll also be relieved to know the entire lineup is GMO-free, gluten-free, and soy-free, as well as low in sugar and sodium. Add the low-sodium filter to take the vetting one step further, which removes any items with more than 12% of your daily sodium value.
Example Meals:
– Roasted cauliflower grain bowl (270 mg)
– Tanger ginger noodles (200 mg)
– Butternut turmeric soup (280 mg)
Sustainability & Quality: While Splendid Spoon offers 100% recyclable packaging, only commit if you're ready to adequately rinse and sort it, as items are packaged individually in plastic. The brand has also made huge strides in sustainability since launching: It switched to climacell recyclable insulation, reduced carbon emissions with a new factory, and replaced gel packs with dry ice to reduce waste.
Cost: From $9 per serving
Best for seniors: Magic Kitchen
Magic KitchenVIEW ON Magic Kitchen
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- No commitment
- Easy to filter recipes
Cons:
- Poor packaging
- Not organic
Type: Frozen mealsDietary Needs: Gluten-free, Vegetarian, Dairy-free, Allergen friendly, Low-fat, Low-sugar
Unlike many other meal delivery services, Magic Kitchen is specifically geared toward seniors. The site is simple to use and easy to filter for specific dietary needs, including low-sodium meals. Also available via phone orders, the menu offers hundreds of premade items including single-serve entrées, snacks, and family plans.
Apply the low-sodium filter to find the best low-sodium options: à la carte items under 400 milligrams or complete entrées with less than 700 milligrams. (Note: Most meals contain less than 500 milligrams.) Plus, you can add additional filters to select recipes that are low in fat or calories, as well as gluten or dairy-free.
Example Meals:
– Roasted veggie kale salad with chicken
– Chickpea-powered Mediterranean bulgur with zucchini
– Pesto-spiced shrimp with pesto couscous and blistered tomatoes
Sustainability & Quality: Magic Kitchen aims to use organic ingredients when possible and prioritizes grain-fed beef and hormone-free chicken. While the brand does use dry ice to ship, the coolers used to send the frozen items are not recyclable. The brand's niche service for seniors kept them on the list despite this less environmentally friendly choice.
Cost: From $10 per serving
Who needs a low-sodium diet?
Not everyone needs to eat a low-sodium diet. It's commonly recommended for those with high blood pressure, kidney failure, or heart failure, but the benefits for those without health issues still need additional research.
The kidneys are responsible for regulating salt levels in the body, so limiting sodium can be beneficial to affected organs with decreased function. Similarly, those with heart issues often have reduced kidney function, which makes a low sodium diet beneficial. However, there's still some conflicting research about the benefits for those with heart failure.
Additionally, a review of 34 studies found that those with hypertension saw a significant reduction in their high blood pressure levels after consuming a low-sodium diet. Those with normal blood pressure levels also saw a drop—just on a smaller scale.
All that being said, a super-restricted intake of sodium may also have negative impacts on those who don't need it. At the end of the day, talking with your doctor is the best way to understand whether a low-sodium diet is right for you.
The takeaway.
The best way to reduce your sodium intake is by consuming your meals at home—and a low-sodium meal delivery service is the easiest way to track your intake without spending the evening reading nutrition labels. Whether you want a meal kit like Sunbasket to teach you new recipes or a prefer a prepared organic entree from Fresh n' Lean, our picks have you covered with nutritious options that emphasize non-GMO and sustainably sourced ingredients.
Reset Your Gut
Sign up for our FREE doctor-approved gut health guide featuring shopping lists, recipes, and tips
Braelyn Woodmbg Deputy Commerce Editor
Braelyn Wood is the Deputy Commerce Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University, along with a certificate in marketing. After interning at Bustle Digital Group and Cosmopolitan, her love of products (and a good deal) led her to the commerce space, and she joined Meredith Corporation as its first health and wellness-focused shopping writer. During this time, her byline appeared in Health, Shape, InStyle, People, and Travel Leisure, as she covered topics like workout gear, home goods, and coronavirus essentials to help shoppers lead healthier lives. In her current role, she helps readers find the best deals, uncover the latest launches, and understand which items are worth the splurge (or not) from her home in Brooklyn, New York.
