To keep track of sodium and sugar, start with the serving size, read sodium and added sugars on the Nutrition Facts panel, then adjust the amounts for the portion actually eaten. Keep the older adult’s preferences and any written instructions from their clinician or registered dietitian beside the shopping list.
Start with the portion, then read the numbers
Find both the serving size and servings per container. According to FDA’s guide to the Nutrition Facts label, the serving size reflects what people typically eat or drink. It is not a recommendation for how much a particular person should eat.
Most of the panel describes one labeled serving. If the portion contains two servings, double the listed amounts. A package can contain several servings even when it looks like something one person might finish. Check for a second column showing the whole package before doing the calculation.
The portion changes the sodium total
FDA’s sample frozen lasagna label uses a 1-cup serving.
1 cup eaten
850 mg sodium
1 labeled serving 37% Daily Value
2 cups eaten
1,700 mg sodium
2 labeled servings 74% Daily Value
Source: FDA, How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label. Sample product, not a meal recommendation. Checked October 23, 2026.
Use the same calculation for other nutrients you are recording. Keep the units visible: sodium is usually listed in milligrams (mg), while sugars are listed in grams (g). A note that says only “sugar: 7” is easy for the next helper to misunderstand.
Use sodium % Daily Value to compare similar foods
The percent Daily Value, or %DV, puts a serving in the context of a daily reference amount. FDA’s sodium guide describes 5% DV or less per serving as low and 20% DV or more as high. Compare products at the same serving size; a smaller serving can make a number look lower without changing the food.
Read the panel even when the front of the package sounds reassuring. “Reduced sodium” means at least 25 percent less sodium than the regular product. “No salt added” describes processing and does not necessarily mean sodium-free. These phrases answer different questions from the amount in the portion.
Choose a few foods the household buys often, such as soup, bread or a prepared meal. Compare two versions the person would actually enjoy. Keep the preferred product name and package size on the grocery list so another shopper can find the same item. Recheck its label when the package or recipe changes.
Keep total sugars and added sugars separate
FDA explains that total sugars includes naturally occurring sugars, such as those in milk and fruit, plus any added sugars. Added sugars are part of that total. Do not add the two label lines together.
In FDA’s yogurt example, one serving has 15 grams of total sugars, including 7 grams of added sugars. That means 8 grams are naturally occurring. The total remains 15 grams. The 7 grams of added sugars represents 14% DV; total sugars has no Daily Value.
The distinction matters when making a shopping note. If the instruction is to record added sugars, copy that line rather than total sugars. If a diabetes care plan specifies total carbohydrate or another measure, ask the care team exactly what to record. A lower added-sugar number does not answer every nutrition question.
Make a short record that another helper can use
Agree on the purpose of the record before starting. Is the family comparing groceries, or has a clinician asked for a food log? For a log, ask how long to keep it and which details will be useful. Use one shared format instead of several disconnected notebooks.
- Food and amount: write the product and portion eaten, not just the portion served.
- Labeled serving: copy the serving size so the calculation can be checked.
- Requested numbers: record sodium in mg and the relevant sugar measure in g, adjusted for the amount eaten.
- Questions: flag an uncertain portion or missing label for follow-up.
Keep the record private and available to the people helping with meals. Ask the older adult what they want to keep eating and what part of shopping or preparation has become difficult. Practical support might mean reading small print together, measuring a familiar serving or preparing the agreed meal.
Arrange meal support in Scottsdale and Maricopa County
If getting groceries or preparing meals is the obstacle, ask about help with that task. Maricopa County’s Healthy Aging resources direct older adults and caregivers to the Area Agency on Aging, Region One Senior HELP LINE at 602-264-4357 for referrals, including home-delivered meals and transportation. Ask about options for the person’s address, requirements and current availability.
Heritage’s companion care includes help with errands and meal routines, and personal care can include meals and everyday assistance. Describe the tasks your family needs and share the care team’s written instructions. Individual nutrition targets belong with the clinician or registered dietitian.
For broader help planning the week, see our senior meal-planning guide. For help carrying out the daily routine, talk with Heritage Home Care about a workable schedule.
Family questions
Questions about sodium and sugar labels
Do I add total sugars and added sugars together?
No. Added sugars are already included in total sugars. FDA’s example has 15 grams of total sugars, including 7 grams of added sugars. The total is 15 grams.
Is the serving size a recommendation for how much to eat?
No. FDA says the serving size reflects what people typically eat or drink. Use it to calculate the amount consumed; ask a clinician or registered dietitian about personal portions and nutrition goals.
Does reduced sodium mean the food is low in sodium?
Not necessarily. FDA defines reduced sodium as at least 25 percent less than the regular product. Compare the sodium amount and serving size on the Nutrition Facts panel.
Can a home caregiver set a sodium or sugar limit?
Ask the clinician or registered dietitian to set individual targets and explain which numbers to track. Ask Heritage about practical help with shopping, meal preparation and following the household’s written instructions.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked October 23, 2026.
- FDA: How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label, serving sizes and the sample calculation.
- FDA: Sodium in Your Diet, %DV and package claims.
- FDA: Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label, total and added sugars.
- Maricopa County: Healthy Aging, local resource referrals.
Frequently asked questions
Do I add total sugars and added sugars together?
No. Added sugars are already included in total sugars. FDA’s example has 15 grams of total sugars, including 7 grams of added sugars. The total is 15 grams.
Is the serving size a recommendation for how much to eat?
No. FDA says the serving size reflects what people typically eat or drink. Use it to calculate the amount consumed; ask a clinician or registered dietitian about personal portions and nutrition goals.
Does reduced sodium mean the food is low in sodium?
Not necessarily. FDA defines reduced sodium as at least 25 percent less than the regular product. Compare the sodium amount and serving size on the Nutrition Facts panel.
Can a home caregiver set a sodium or sugar limit?
Ask the clinician or registered dietitian to set individual targets and explain which numbers to track. Ask Heritage about practical help with shopping, meal preparation and following the household’s written instructions.
