Sodium intake from meals and snacks consumed by college students

This investigation was designed to compute the total sodium intake from meals and snacks consumed by selected college students. Most students used carbonated beverages, candies, gums, cookies, and salted snack items. They consumed salted snack items mostly as evening snacks. Mean sodium intake was found to be 3,904 mg. for men and 2,628 mg. for women, without taking into consideration the use of table salt. Sodium density per kilocalorie per day was 1.40 and 1.41 for men and women, respectively, suggesting that the differences in intakes were due to women's lower caloric intake. Sodium intake was greater from regular meals than from snack foods. Evening snacks contributed more to the daily sodium intake than morning and afternoon snacks. It can be concluded that sodium intake of college students needs careful assessment. According to the Food and Nutrition Board, the most effective way to maintain intake within the suggested range is to reduce the amount of salt added at table or in cooking and to reduce moderately the selection of obviously salty foods (9). College students need to be made aware of the sodium content of foods they select for lunch, dinner, and evening snacks, as well as the amount of salt they add at the table.