Final answer:
The correct statement indicating effective diet teaching for a client with CHF on a 2-gram sodium diet is avoiding processed and canned foods, which are typically high in sodium. Reading labels and choosing foods with lower sodium content is part of managing intake.
Step-by-step explanation:
A client with congestive heart failure (CHF) has been advised to follow a 2-gram sodium diet. The statement by the client that indicates to the nurse that the diet teaching has been effective is: "I need to avoid eating processed foods and canned meats and vegetables." This understanding shows that the client is aware that processed foods typically contain high levels of sodium, which may not be obvious without reading the nutrition labels. It is less about avoiding only obviously salty foods and more about being aware of sodium content in various foods, including those that may not taste salty.
Total sodium intake for a healthy adult should be less than 2300 mg/day. For a patient with CHF who needs to limit their sodium intake further, avoiding added salt in cooking, and foods known to have high sodium content, like processed and canned items, is essential. Quality diet education should also emphasize the importance of reading food labels, where foods considered low in sodium have less than 140 mg per serving, or less than 5% of the daily value. It is crucial to understand that while reducing table salt usage is beneficial, many foods contain added sodium which contributes significantly to overall intake.