High levels of salt is linked with high blood pressure and hypertension. With dietary tastes being influenced by how we eat as children, cutting back a child's intake of salt has potential long-term health benefits. iVillage nutritionist Wynnie Chan reports

Salt, or sodium chloride, has important contributions to make to our health. While we all need a small amount for our body to function efficiently, as a nation we are eating far too much.

Scientific evidence suggests that dietary habits in childhood and adolescence influence eating patterns in later life. Human beings do not have an innate liking for salt - rather, the preference for salt and salty foods is learned throughout our early years. It is quite likely that efforts to reduce the salt intake among adults would probably be a lot easier if our taste for salt had never been learned in the first place. We know from scientific studies among the adult population that high levels of salt are associated with high blood pressure or hypertension, and that people with high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop heart disease and strokes.

In recognition of the need to encourage children to eat a more balanced diet - in particular more fruit and vegetables, and less salt - the government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recently issued daily salt targets for children.

Age	Salt (g/day) targets	Current intakes in UK
0-6 months	<1	no data
7-12 months	1	0.8
1-3 yr olds	2	1.4
4-6 yr olds	3	4.7-5.3
7-10 yr olds	5	5.5-6.1
11-14 yr olds	6	5.8-6.8

In the UK, 75 per cent of salt consumed by individuals comes from processed foods, takeaways, sweets, snacks and meals bought and consumed outside the home. Currently, children are exceeding the daily salt target.

A recent survey by the Food Standards Agency found that the salt content of chilled ready-made meals for children were as high as that of standard adult ready meals. Of the 69 popular ready meals sampled, which included shepherd's pie, lasagne, macaroni cheese, chicken korma and rice, spaghetti Bolognese and chicken nuggets and chips, nearly a half of them contained more than 40 per cent of the daily adult salt target (6g).

Food retailers have thankfully started working to reduce the amount of salt in their products. A gradual reduction means that consumers get used to the taste without noticing it.

To help kids ditch the salt, here are a few helpful hints:

• Reduce the amount of processed foods that they are given, e.g. pre-packed foods, bacon, sausages, ham, foods canned in brine, pickles
• Experiment with different flavourings in home-cooked foods, e.g. add lemon, spices, garlic, mustard, onion, pepper, herbs
• Cook vegetables without adding salt or sodium bicarbonate
• Don't let kids add salt at the table