Low sodium freeze dried meals?
#1
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Low sodium freeze dried meals?
I would like to pack a few of these to make life easier but I do not want 1500mg of sodium per serving (3000 mg if I eat the package myself which will most likely happen).
Are there any low salt freeze dried meals?
Are there any low salt freeze dried meals?
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Don't know what you would consider "low salt", but if you look through the offerings of Mountain House, Backpackers Pantry, and others specializing in freeze dried meals, you can find many that will provide 2 servings with less than 1000 mg of sodium total.
#3
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Actually, most of the MH and BP 2-man entrees (have these ever actually fed 2 men?) have >1000mg/1g sodium per serving,or >2000mg per pack.
Of the 26 2-man MH entrees listed in linked table, only 2 (<10%) contain <1000mg per package.
https://www.mountainhouse.com/nutr.cfm
Ditto BP (even more sodium than MH).
https://www.backpackerspantry.com/pdf/Nutritionals.pdf
Sodium content is high by design in popular outdoors freeze-dried foods, because you normally need the sodium due to the high exertion nature of backpacking. I like many of the FD foods, and I certainly sweat a lot when I BP, so the sodium content has never bothered me.
I think shopping for these FD foods will elevate your blood pressure even more than the sodium/water intake associated with their consumption. I could easily eat $30 worth of this stuff in a day.
https://www.rei.com/search?cat=450000...ker%27s+Pantry
You should simply avoid these FD foods if sodium is a big concern.
Of the 26 2-man MH entrees listed in linked table, only 2 (<10%) contain <1000mg per package.
https://www.mountainhouse.com/nutr.cfm
Ditto BP (even more sodium than MH).
https://www.backpackerspantry.com/pdf/Nutritionals.pdf
Sodium content is high by design in popular outdoors freeze-dried foods, because you normally need the sodium due to the high exertion nature of backpacking. I like many of the FD foods, and I certainly sweat a lot when I BP, so the sodium content has never bothered me.
I think shopping for these FD foods will elevate your blood pressure even more than the sodium/water intake associated with their consumption. I could easily eat $30 worth of this stuff in a day.
https://www.rei.com/search?cat=450000...ker%27s+Pantry
You should simply avoid these FD foods if sodium is a big concern.
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If you can't find the freeze dried meals your looking for, you might consider creating your own "Freezer Bag meals" customized for your particular diet. Here is the website.
https://www.trailcooking.com/
They have section specifically for low sodium.
https://www.trailcooking.com/diy/low-sodium-diets
Freezer bag meals are as easy to make as freeze dried ones.
https://www.trailcooking.com/
They have section specifically for low sodium.
https://www.trailcooking.com/diy/low-sodium-diets
Freezer bag meals are as easy to make as freeze dried ones.
#5
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I guess this may not be what you are looking for, but...
- I don't consider high sodium foods a problem when on tour. I usually work pretty hard and sweat a lot so if anything I intentionally take in more salt.
- Did I correctly interpret your carrying "few of these to make life easier" to mean they will not be your primary source of nutrition? If so, you are probably eating these only once in a while and the sodium becomes even less of an issue.
- I'll also say that for me freeze dried meals are just plain nasty, hard to find on the road, and expensive. Because of that I would only use them as emergency meals and might carry one or two "just in case" if I know that I will be traveling where restocking daily may not be an option. Since they are only a fall back plan, I can tolerate their shortcomings.
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I want to pack these for a quick meal when I have no source of fresh food or weather is closing in ect.
Making my own is a great idea actually and I read about this last night. I'm goin to try this.
However, if anyone is still thinking that you need additional salt while on tour or in daily life with strenuous activity your very mistaken.
I've read all kind of sodium studies over the last two decades (R.N for 19 years now) and salt added to anything is something you don't need. And anything you sweat out you get back from what your eating regardless.
Low salt = healthy CV in the long run.
Consuming additional salt because of exersize/sweat = 1960's mind set. But I guess people smoked while exercizing back then.
The maximum level of sodium needed daily is 2000-2300mg. There is no max level for atheletes and people who sit around.
A 100mg slice of cheddar has about 600mg sodium. Put that with some eggs and bacon and you have your low daily limit. Even water has sodium in someplaces.
Making my own is a great idea actually and I read about this last night. I'm goin to try this.
However, if anyone is still thinking that you need additional salt while on tour or in daily life with strenuous activity your very mistaken.
I've read all kind of sodium studies over the last two decades (R.N for 19 years now) and salt added to anything is something you don't need. And anything you sweat out you get back from what your eating regardless.
Low salt = healthy CV in the long run.
Consuming additional salt because of exersize/sweat = 1960's mind set. But I guess people smoked while exercizing back then.
The maximum level of sodium needed daily is 2000-2300mg. There is no max level for atheletes and people who sit around.
A 100mg slice of cheddar has about 600mg sodium. Put that with some eggs and bacon and you have your low daily limit. Even water has sodium in someplaces.
Last edited by ricohman; 08-27-09 at 07:16 AM.
#7
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Well, since you've indicated a willingness to DIY, maybe the link below would be helpful as a source for FD staples. They don't provide any info on nutritional analysis, so you may need to inquire about sodium content.
https://store.honeyvillegrain.com/
I've been meaning to try their FD egg whites, much cheaper than the outdoors-targeted brands - seems like a very practical source of high quality protein for LD touring. As far as carbs go, I prefer instant white rice, french bread (lasts pretty good for a couple days), etc - already dried and precooked, available everywhere.
https://store.honeyvillegrain.com/
I've been meaning to try their FD egg whites, much cheaper than the outdoors-targeted brands - seems like a very practical source of high quality protein for LD touring. As far as carbs go, I prefer instant white rice, french bread (lasts pretty good for a couple days), etc - already dried and precooked, available everywhere.