Properly understanding salt’s function in our diets is essential to living a healthy life. And when it comes to our children’s health, it's really important we gain the right knowledge on how salt affects their overall well-being and the ways in which we can manage their intake early on. And since a taste for salty foods is learned like a habit, having this knowledge during our children’s preschool years gives us the chance to positively influence them early on, and set the pace for their health as they progress through life.

What is salt?

Salt is a natural resource that can be found everywhere - from seawater to our tears, to mines deep within the earth. For some people, salt is simply a condiment to add flavour to their meals. Yet salt plays a vital role in helping the body function in multiple ways such as controlling weight, balancing fluids in the blood, maintaining healthy blood pressure, as well as nerve and muscle function. Salt is essential for a human’s diet, but consuming too much is unhealthy.

What is the recommended daily salt intake for me and my child?

Babies and children need very little salt in their diet in comparison to adults, as their kidneys are not yet fully developed to process it.

Children under one should be having no more than 1g of salt a day, according to NHS guidelines. Children within the age bracket of two-three years should have no more than 2g of salt a day.

In general, if you practice not adding extra salt to the foods you prepare, and give your child healthy, home-cooked meals, their salt intake will be naturally reached.

Why does my child crave salt?

A high intake of salt isn’t healthy for anyone of any age, and a diet that contains a lot of it will easily lead to cravings. This is unsurprising as salt makes food taste a lot better. However, salt cravings in your child can also be fuelled by stress, lack of sleep, boredom, a problem with the adrenal glands, and other less common conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis.

How do I understand and take control of my child’s salt cravings?

Set an example that will change their habits: One of the first things to think about when planning how to control not only your child’s salt intake but any cravings they may have developed, is to set a good example. Lower your own salt intake by eating less processed salty foods, and choosing low sodium or no salt added packaged foods when you’re doing grocery shopping. Also, avoid eating at fast-food restaurants and perhaps limit eating out to no more than once every two weeks. Practising these rituals will set a wonderful example for your child, and will allow them to naturally develop better habits surrounding salt. Try using other herbs to flavour meals as this can also help dampen any salt cravings.

Why is salt important in my toddler’s diet?

From Unii’s Toddler Nutrition Journey, we look at salt’s role in your child’s diet.