On average, children ages 2 to 19 eat more than 3,100 milligrams (mg) sodium per day — about double the amount the American Heart Association recommends. The older children get, the more calories and sodium they tend to eat.

Research has shown that males 12 to 19 eat the most sodium — an average 4,220 mg/day, while females in the same age group eat about 2,950 mg/day.