The Fast Facts

  • Low sodium frozen meals are a quick, convenient way to support heart health, especially for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or chronic kidney disease.
  • A good rule of thumb is to choose meals with less than 600 mg of sodium per serving to help stay within recommended daily limits.
  • Our dietitian recommends brands such as Amy’s Kitchen and Lean Cuisine, with their low sodium options ranging from $2 to $11 per serving.

Frozen meals are often high in sodium. In fact, it’s estimated that around 70 percent of the sodium people consume in the United States comes from prepackaged, processed, and restaurant foods.

In addition to enhancing the flavor of frozen foods, sodium is also used to preserve freshness and improve the texture and appearance of meals.

While frozen meals are not recommended as part of a nutritious, balanced diet, they can be an easy and convenient item to have on hand when you’re short on time.

Even with so many options on the market, finding flavorful, low sodium options at the grocery store can be challenging.

Here’s our pick of the best frozen meals that are low in sodium.

Here is a closer look at how these brands compare:

Brand
Price
Ingredients
Diet friendliness
Sample items
Amy’s Kitchen
$4 to $11 per serving
non-GMO and mostly organic
• vegetarian
• vegan
• gluten-free
• dairy-free
• soy-free
• kosher
• Mexican Casserole Bowl, Light in Sodium
• Roasted Vegetable Pizza
• Tofu Scramble Breakfast Wrap
Healthy Choice
$2 to $5 per serving
free of artificial ingredients
• vegetarian
• vegan
• gluten-free
• low carb
• high protein
• Grilled Chicken Marsala
• Beef Teriyaki
• Honey Glazed Turkey & Potatoes
Lean Cuisine
$2 to $5 per serving
responsibly sourced ingredients that comply with FDA guidelines on fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium
• vegetarian
• low carb
• high protein
• low calorie
• gluten-free
• Apple Cranberry Chicken
• Santa Fe-Style Rice And Beans
• Herb Roasted Chicken
Saffron Road
$6 to $7 per serving
humanely raised meat, free of artificial ingredients and GMOs
• gluten-free
• vegan
• vegetarian
• halal
• Lemongrass Basil Chicken
• Spinach Palak Paneer
• Vegetable Biryani
Tattooed Chef
$5 to $6 per serving
non-GMO and mostly organic
• vegan
• vegetarian
• grain-free
• gluten-free
• Spicy Vodka Bowl
• Hot Honey Mac & Cheese Bowl
• Gnocchi Tteokbokki Bowl

The brands featured in this article were selected based on the following criteria:

  • Variety: We selected brands that offer a variety of meals and cater to diverse dietary needs.
  • Ingredient quality: We chose brands that use high quality ingredients that are often organic or free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
  • Price: We included brands that offer meals at a range of price points to fit almost any budget.
  • Sodium content: We selected brands that provide a variety of meals with less than 600 mg of sodium per serving.
  • Vetting: Our team of experts, who evaluate each company’s business practices and reputation, along with the credibility of any medical claims, has vetted all the brands on our list.
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On average, it’s estimated that people in the United States consume more than 3,300 mg of sodium per day

This is significantly more than the amount health organizations like the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend. The AHA recommends consuming less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, ideally less than 1,500 mg.

A low sodium diet is often recommended for people with high blood pressure and heart disease.

In fact, according to the AHA, reducing sodium intake by just 1,000 mg per day could significantly improve blood pressure and heart health for most people.

A low sodium diet may also be beneficial for other health conditions, including chronic kidney disease.

Many brands, like Amy’s Kitchen, Saffron Road, and Lean Cuisine, offer low sodium frozen meals.

In most cases, frozen meals made with fruits and veggies, whole grains, or legumes are lower in sodium than those that include highly processed ingredients like bacon, cold cuts, or ham.

Following a low sodium diet may be recommended for people with certain health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease.

Some research suggests that lower sodium intake may also be associated with other benefits, including reduced blood pressure and a decreased risk of stomach cancer.

Sodium plays a key role in many aspects of health and is necessary for many body functions. For most people, eating a low sodium diet is safe and often beneficial. It is unlikely to have any downsides.

That said, an older study suggests that excessively low sodium intake may be associated with elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, more research is needed.

A low sodium diet includes fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed meats. You can also eat eggs, legumes, unsalted nuts and seeds, and dairy products.

A low sodium diet can be beneficial for people limiting their intake of salt and those with certain health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease.

Though most frozen foods are high in sodium, there are several healthy, heart-friendly meal options available in the freezer aisle.

Check out some of the brands above to get started, and remember to read the nutrition labels carefully and choose meals with less than 600 mg of sodium per serving.