Twenty-nine food manufacturers have joined the National Salt Reduction Initiative. I love that food companies are making an effort, and I thought I would peruse the store a little to find products that are demonstrating a commitment to their pledge and posting lower sodium numbers on the nutrition facts panel.

Here is a sampling of lower-sodium products that can be found in your local grocery store:

• Breakstone reduced sodium cottage cheese:
  Cottage cheese is not something you would originally think of as high in sodium, but it is typically 420 mg of sodium per half a cup. This 30 percent lower-sodium cottage cheese has 290 mg. It tastes great, too, so pick some up today. This makes a great addition to smoothies for added protein.

• Crackers:
  The only low-sodium cracker you could find before were unsalted saltine-type crackers and now there are Ritz, Triskets and Wheat Thins with reduced sodium. It is also nice that two of those are whole grain as well.

• Tuna Pouch:
  Tuna in the can has been lower sodium in the past (in the organic section and the traditional canned meat aisle). But now Star-Kist has come out with tuna in the pouch that has lower sodium. It is great because it needs no draining and comes in both chunk light (130 mg per 2.6 ounce) and albacore tuna (70 mg per 2.6 ounce).

My plan is to continue updating you on products that heed the call for lower sodium. I think it important to emphasize good healthy products so that we can include them in our diets and provide a reason for companies to continue hearing our demands for healthier, more wholesome products.

Recently it has come to my attention that Campbell’s is adding salt back to its Healthy Request soup line due to reduced sales. Of course I am disappointed with that move. However, I am sympathetic to the need for product sales. This is one reason I enjoy highlighting products that promote healthful wholesome eating.

It is important to be part of making those products successful and profitable (increased sales) so that they continue to exist. If you want to read more about the Campbell’s salt add-in go here.

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