# Any prepared meal services that offer low sodium meals? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219 "2024-09-28T22:30:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/1 "2024-09-28T22:30:40Z")
I was recently put on a low-sodium diet, and, like a lot of people in [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-foods-are-sodium-bombs/1002290/61) I was surprised, dismayed, alas even flabbergasted 🙂 at how difficult it is. I’m looking for a prepared-meal service that offers low-sodium dishes: something similar to Factor. Factor, unfortunately, doesn’t offer a low-sodium meal plan. I did Blue Apron in the past (before the low-sodium requirement) but I quickly tired of it taking 60 to 90 minutes to prepare a meal they said should only take 30 to 45 minutes to prepare. So I would prefer meals that came already prepared, if possible. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience they can share? Thanks! J. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/2 "2024-09-28T23:42:47Z")
What is the cutoff for “low” sodium? In mg/serving or per day? ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/3 "2024-09-29T00:41:35Z")
They want me to stay below 1500 mg / day. J. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/4 "2024-09-29T01:57:34Z")
If you want prepared food there are two ways to control water activity. That is the amount of water available for mold and other spoilage. One way is with salt, it is the cheapest way, the other way is with sugar. Both will tie up the water so it is not available for spoilage. If you see low sodium foods, low salt, you can almost guarantee that it is loaded with sugar. Better to make your own food. > Food designers use water activity to formulate [shelf-stable food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelf-stable_food). If a product is kept below a certain water activity, then mold growth is inhibited. This results in a longer [shelf life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelf_life). [Water activity - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_activity) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/5 "2024-09-29T02:53:15Z")
Hmm… my partner and I have been eating this powdered food replacement called Huel the last few years, and it’s been wonderful (and much cheaper than “real”-er food like Factor). They have both ready-to-drink [bottled shakes](https://huel.com/products/build-your-own-bundle#/?product=huel-ready-to-drink) and [cup-o-noodles like savory options](https://huel.com/products/build-your-own-bundle#/?product=huel-instant-meal-pots) that you add hot water to (or microwave). Unfortunately, only [their shakes are low sodium, about 250mg/bottle](https://huel.com/pages/the-huel-ready-to-drink-formula-explained). We drink a few of those a day, but wouldn’t want to rely exclusively on them. Their hot & savory options are more food-like than the shakes, but [high in sodium (by your standards, about 500mg/cup)](https://huel.com/pages/the-huel-hot-savory-formula-explained). If you mix and match the two, you should be able to meet your nutritional needs and still stay under 1500mg/day. But it’s not as tasty or food-like as Factor. More like luxury astronaut meals/backpacking food. On the plus side, they take all the guesswork and annoyance out of meals, and each one only takes from 2 seconds (to open a shake) to 2 minutes (to heat up a cup). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/6 "2024-09-29T04:33:44Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > If you want prepared food there are two ways to control water activity. That is the amount of water available for mold and other spoilage. Well, there’s freezing … ? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/7 "2024-09-30T01:17:52Z")
Well, to be clear, the salt is added _both_ for the preservative quality (no arguments) but to _generally_ also offset low, or at least lower _quality_ ingredients. As it is said: Salt makes mistakes taste great! A quick review shows several meal services that at least _advertise_ lower sodium options, but they all appear to be at the higher end of the price range. I think the best question to the OP is how much are you willing to pay _per meal_ which might narrow down the range of options. But most of the lower sodium ones seem to **start** in the range of $7.99-8.99 US per meal, and go up from there, which would break my budget. > **[8 Best Low-Sodium Meal Delivery Services](https://www.eatingwell.com/affiliate/8036587/best-low-sodium-meal-delivery-services/)** > > Looking for a hassle-free way to maintain a low-sodium diet? Check out our comprehensive review of the best low-sodium meal delivery services that offer delicious and healthy meals to suit your dietary needs. I checked a few of the options, and saw several of the meals were in the 500mg range, but again, you’re paying quite a price. Having worked the hypothetical, I still think it’s easier if you want to reduce meal prep to find or develop a few meals that meet your requirements that are easily prepared in larger batches and frozen in individual servings. My green chili pork, which uses a lot of chiles, cilantro and lime as an example, is pretty good without much added salt, because I get a similar taste sensation from the citrus. But tastes vary, and freezer and cooking space may be a no-go for the OP. Different trade offs! ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-prepared-meal-services-that-offer-low-sodium-meals/1008219/8 "2024-10-12T00:30:15Z")
Mom’s meals offers low sodium foods. > **[Lower-Sodium Meal Delivery | Mom's Meals](https://www.momsmeals.com/our-food-programs/nutrition/lower-sodium/)** > > Mom's Meals has a lower sodium menu, which features refrigerated, fully-prepared meals that are lower in sodium and saturated fat to support heart health and lower blood pressure.