Thread: Dehydrated meals and salt content

The salt content in dehydrated meals has bothered me for a while, not because I'm a health freak, but because they leave me feeling dry and thirsty. I've compared the salt content across the entire range of standard, regular size Back Country and Real Meals. This information is published by the companies, but not in a way that makes it easy to understand or make comparisons.





Some observations:

1) Back Country packs are bigger than Real Meals which I find too small. Back Country products are better value, but not surprisingly, have more salt content overall. A fair way to compare the two product ranges is looking at sodium per 100g dry weight.

2) Across the ranges, Back Country have a higher salt content than Real Meals on average, but what really matters is your choice of a particular meal.

3) Published sodium content per dry weight 100g does not tally with sodium content per meal when based on total dry weight. I don't understand this, maybe someone in the food industry could explain?

4) I accept that some salt replacement is required, especially when doing big walks. How much you want to consume is going to depend on your personal circumstances, but to put things in to perspective, the maximum recommended salt intake per day is around 6g. The Back Country meal with the highest salt content is 9.6g!

5) Yes, I have been overthinking this, but have time on my hands when I'm at work.

6), Yes, I know a solution is to make your own dehydrated meals, but for the occasional user, these products are a convenience.

I think with this freeze dried stuff salt is the least of your problems.

Personally far prefer real meals over the backcountry *yuck*

But do need to add a ton of salt to suit my taste.

As for what is considered healthy or not by the "experts": that usually changes every few decades.

Originally Posted by STC

I think with this freeze dried stuff salt is the least of your problems.

That is my problem, yours may be different.

Your tables are wrong;
Edited as I misread your last column it's not Na it's salt.

The sodium (mg) per 100g is not dry weight, it's per 100g of prepared meal.

For roast beef & vegetables - Regular.
Dry meal weight = 175g
Prepared meal weight = 675g (add 500ml of water)
Sodium per 100g of prepared meal = 588mg/0.588g Weight of salt (NaCl) = 1.49g (Sodium x 2.54)
Sodium per serve (675g) = 3840mg/3.840g. Weight of salt (NaCl) = 9.75g (Sodium x 2.54)

Sodium per serve equates close enough to scaling the per 100g by 6.75 which would = 3969mg. Why the slight difference I don't know. Presume scaling or rounding somewhere.

Not even a blip on my radar.if I'm eating dehy I will be sweating out far more than I put in...and I normally chuck packet of two minute noodles in with it to soak up a bit more liquid so I'm adding more via flavour sachet anyway. If you think too much salt or sugar.drink more water.a big cup of water before bed is ideal and interestingly makes it LESS likely you need to get up for a pee.a drink with sugar in it has opposite effect.the body makes you pee to make you thirsty to make you drink more(it hopes it will be water) to equalise levels out. Assumable the dry mouth with salt is to do the same.

OK, thanks Makros, that makes sense.

I also find them way too salty and feel positively dehydrated my self after a back country meal. I avoid them and make alfredo type pastas premix packets (https://www.paknsave.co.nz/shop/prod...0872_ea_000pns) that you simmer and add tuna or some protein. Or I use dehy mash (which is 100% potato https://www.woolworths.co.nz/shop/pr...instant-mashed) with nothing added and add a protein. Very cheap, tastes miles better and have a minor weight penalty.

I'll share the pasta mix with my partner and with 340mg sodium per serve that means 680mg of sodium per serve of the pasta plus a bit with the tuna or protein depending on the mix.

Edit to add; my favourite is instant mash, knob of butter, smoked tuna in a can. Tastes like smoked fish pie and I'd eat at home. Sometimes have this for dinner and breakfast in the bush. If you do this, you'll never touch the nasty dehy meals again.

Are you confident the dryness is due to the sodium, and not a reaction to some of the various hyper-processed additives and preservatives?

I ask, because I tend to get that same feel in my mouth and throat after a backcountry, and I know it’s not the sodium, because my sodium intake is basically a daily attempt to hit a high score, thanks to a medical condition.

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

Are you confident the dryness is due to the sodium, and not a reaction to some of the various hyper-processed additives and preservatives?

I ask, because I tend to get that same feel in my mouth and throat after a backcountry, and I know it’s not the sodium, because my sodium intake is basically a daily attempt to hit a high score, thanks to a medical condition.

I doubt it, as @MB says their ingredients are listed and in terms of preservatives they're pretty non scary and very little. I think starting with a presumption that they're actually full of preservatives is a fallacy. Dehydrating things is pretty effective by itself.
The salt level for the worst one is a teaspoon and a half of salt in one meal weighing 675g (of which is 500g of water weight). You may be going for a high score but I'd hazard a guess not a teaspoon and a half of salt on a small meal type level.

sure its not the MSG ?
i gave up on freeze dry, for week trips i had fresh meat nitrogen frozen plus the occasional possum etc

Originally Posted by gonetropo

sure its not the MSG ?
i gave up on freeze dry, for week trips i had fresh meat nitrogen frozen plus the occasional possum etc

I'm sure because MSG (additive number 621) isn't a listed ingredient in any I've tried. Plus MSG just adds to the sodium content which would be the only noticeable effect on dehydration unless you have an MSG sensitivity which I don't.

Originally Posted by MB

That is my problem, yours may be different.

I guess if blaming salt for feeling bad when eating processed shit makes you feel better...

good luck!

Re: MSG - as Makros says, appears to be absent. Can't speak for the other stuff listed in the ingredients, but salt is the most likely culprit. Commercially sold dehydrated meals are not the type of food I'd want to eat every day, but they serve a purpose.

Last back country I tried was a eggs bacon breakfast type one. Got biffed after about two spoonfuls, was disgustingly salty

Originally Posted by Preacher

Last back country I tried was a eggs bacon breakfast type one. Got biffed after about two spoonfuls, was disgustingly salty

Yeah, I've tried the breakfast. It's getting up there in the salt league table.