Where’s the Salt? Hidden in your Thanksgiving Menu

WASHINGTON (AP) - Health experts are concerned that people will still be saying "pass the salt" this Thanksgiving, even when many prepared foods already are loaded with it.

From the stuffing mix to the green bean casserole to even pumpkin pie, a lot of people can reach their daily sodium allotment or more with just the fixings alone. And even the turkey can be injected with salt water to plump it before it reaches the store.

The total amount of sodium for a Thanksgiving meal can be as much as 2,000 milligrams. The nation's new dietary guidelines say no one should eat more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, and half the population should eat even less.

Registered dietitian Bethany Thayer of the American Dietetic Association says one way to get around a lot of salt on turkey day is to prepare the meal from scratch as much as possible.

Some suggestions:
Use homemade cornbread for stuffing instead of the stuff in a box. And try onion, garlic and a variety of herbs in place of salt, but watch out for things like poultry seasoning, which can contain salt.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)