Dangers of eating too much salt

[Buttonstoo]

My 9 year old eats far too much salt even though I watch him like a hawk- he 'sneeks' it whilst I am not looking.

He has too much actual salt and I know there is plenty more 'hidden' in foods.

I have tried to explain the dangers but I think he thinks it's all a joke. I have found plently of information on the net but I need some that a child can understand and absorb.

Things have come to ahead today because he wanted to add salt to some 'McDonalds' chips, they are already salted in the shop!!!!

[Scarlett]

You could try getting a garden slug and pour salt on it and show him what happens to it. Show him the effect the salt has on the slug, and maybe he will realise what it is doing to his insides. Nasty, but will probably be effective!

[spacechimp]

Yeah, do that.

[PatriciaH]

Throw it away and dont keep anymore in the house- good idea scarlet- lol- you will probably get moaned at for cruelty to slugs though...

[spacechimp]

You could tell him that every time he eats salty food you're going to pour salt over the slug.

[joko]

there was a story a few years ago about a woman whose 7 year old son swallowed a penny - in a panic the woman forced 3 glasses of salt water down him to make him vomit it up - the kid died - organs failed etc so see if you can find this story and show him - may make him a bit wary.

[spacechimp]

I don't think the aim here is not to traumatise the child.

[spacechimp]

I made a ****-up of that. Correction: I don't think the aim here is to traumatise the child

[Dolly1308]

Don't buy salt !

[nickmo]

Buy 'LoSalt' salt replacement and put it in the usual salt packet.

Only you will know what he is eating - and the rest of the family will benefit as well.

Details here: http://www.losalt.com/default.htm and you can get it in any shop

[spacechimp]

Had to outdo us. Gah.

[joko]

i don't think proving to a child that salt is bad for him will 'traumatise' him! - it's hardly a horror story, just a sad tale of ignorance and danger.

and at 9 he will hear about people dying all the time of much worse things

i think he would just stop eating salt by choice - better than him still eating it and hiding the fact because he thinks its safe.

[nickmo]

Impossible to outdo the AB (but still folds arms in smug fashion and dances in victory........snigger snigger.....hums irrating tune to self and chuckles.....now preparing acceptance speech......)

Anyway, PatriciaH had the best idea - throw away the child and don't let anymore in the house. Problem sorted!! Talk about traumatising............