Limit softened water. Softened water contains sodium, so do not drink, make ice cubes, or prepare food with it. Choose whole foods. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and unsalted, lean cuts of meat, fish or poultry contain minial amounts of sodium. Use caution when eating at restaurants.
Most restaurants use salt and sodium when cooking.
If choosing to eat out, talk with the server or chef about their preparation and cooking method. They may be able to modify the recipe to decrease the sodium content. Whole foods, that have little to no preparation and cooking, may be better choices when eating out . By following the general guidelines, sodium would be restricted to levels between 3,000 and 2,000 mg. Restricting sodium further requires more careful attention to portion sizes and the choice of special, low sodium products.