Regardless of if you consider it a seasoning, a vegetable serving or a sandwich topper, onions are one of the most versatile vegetables included in a kidney friendly diet.

Onions are low in sodium, potassium and phosphorus, regardless of the color or variety.

• One 1/4-inch slice from a large onion contains 2 mg sodium, 55 mg potassium and 11 mg phosphorus.
• ½ cup chopped, raw onion contains 3 mg sodium, 117 mg potassium and 23 mg phosphorus.
• ½ cup chopped raw scallions, tops and bulb contains 8 mg sodium, 138 mg potassium and 18 mg phosphorus.
• ½ cup tiny whole onions, boiled contains 8 mg sodium, 106 mg potassium and 2 mg phosphorus.

Health benefits of the onion comes from plant chemicals  such as flavonoids, phenols and quercetin, which are associated with anti-inflammatory and  antioxidant actions, cholesterol lowering and cancer protection.
Add a punch of healthy onion flavor to your kidney diet by trying some of these ideas:

• Sauté chopped onion in olive oil to add to vegetables, soups, casseroles and meat dishes
• Serve sliced raw onion on sandwiches, burgers and salads
• Caramelize onions to top cooked meats or make onion soup
• Make onion rings
• Mix onion pieces in with bell peppers, mushrooms and zucchini to roast in the oven or cook on the grill
• Use powdered or minced onion to flavor any savory dish
• Serve fresh green onions on the side to compliment any meat or poultry dish
• Make pickled onions by marinating thin slices in vinegar with a little sweetener if desired.

DaVita.com has over 600 kidney-friendly recipes. Here are some low potassium, low phosphorus, low sodium recipes that use onions to boost flavor:

• Apple Onion Omelet
• Italian Beef with Peppers and Onions
• It’s Better than Potato Salad
• Nicaraguan Beef Tenderloins
• Mahi Fish on the Green
• Spicy Bell Pepper Medley
• Veggie Strata

Kidney diet resources from DaVita.com

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DaVita Diet Helper

January is a great time to make positive lifestyle changes. If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or are a dialysis patient, consider resolutions around eating better to keep your nutrition up and manage potassium, phosphorus, sodium and fluid the best you can.

Among the DaVita resources, several tools are available to help you stay on track. There are Diet and Nutrition articles, kidney-friendly cooking videos and my favorite, DaVita Diet Helper.  All of these resources can help you stick with your 2010 kidney diet resolutions.

Sign up for DaVita Diet Helper an online kidney meal planner. This one-of-a-kind planner uses your diet prescription for protein and potassium to create several weeks of kidney-friendly meals including recipes, what to serve with the recipe and what to snack on in between meals. A shopping list makes it convenient and easy to put it all together. Best of all, there’s no charge for this wonderful tool.

Over the past several months the following new Quick and Easy meals were added to existing two weeks of meals in DaVita Diet Helper:
Breakfast
Breakfast Smoothie
Egg Muffin Sandwich
Quick Fluffy Eggs in a Mug
Easy Overnight French Toast
Lunch
Beefy Taco Salad
Chicken Broccoli Pasta Toss
Fish Sandwich
Grilled Hamburger
Spicy Brunch Wraps
Turkey Burger
Dinner
Crunchy Tofu Stir Fry
Grilled Pork and Pineapple Kabobs
Honey Glazed Chicken with Squash
Italian Style Stuffed Pepper
Lemony Chicken with Pasta and
Asparagus
Rosemary Roasted Salmon

The recipes are included in a complete meal that puts the renal diet together for you based on the diet prescription you select. The meal includes sides and beverage in addition to the main entree recipe. Food choices, carbohydrate choices and a nutrition profile is included with each meal.

You can also add your own meals, recipes and foods to DaVita Diet Helper, so this tool can easily become your online resource for planning, tracking and storing your favorite kidney-friendly recipes and meals.

Kidney diet resources from DaVita.com

Review and rate recipes

Discussion Forums

Monthly Recipe Alerts

DaVita Diet Helper

In December I blogged about a new, fun way to learn about phosphorus coming to DaVita.com this spring.  Soon you can sign up to be notified when the Phosphorus Challenge is ready. Look for an announcement coming soon to the DaVita.com home page.

I’m really excited about Phosphorus Challenge. It’s a one of a kind online challenge that provides education about phosphorus by featuring games, quizzes, polls, points and social networking with others who are taking the phosphorus challange. Last week I met with the DaVita Dietitian Council to present the features and received very positive input. The dietitians are looking forward to this new online tool to help dialysis and chronic kidney disease patients learn more about phosphorus and how to control it.

I think you’ll have fun playing the games while increasing your knowledge about phosphorus, which is so important. Today, compared to several years ago, more emphasis is placed on phosphorus control in chronic kidney disease as research reveals new information about the harmful effects of phosphorus on bone mineralization and the role in calcifications of the heart and arteries.

Keep on the lookout for more news about the DaVita Phosphorus Challenge coming soon.

Kidney diet resources from DaVita.com

Review and rate recipes

Discussion Forums

Monthly Recipe Alerts

DaVita Diet Helper

Read more…

Milk is high in phosphorus

Where do you go for information on phosphorus? People on dialysis receive education from their renal dietitian and healthcare team at the dialysis center. Their phosphorus level is checked frequently and phosphorus binders may be prescribed with meals help keep phosphorus levels lower.

Coming soon DaVita is launching a new fun way to learn about phosphorus. It’s called the Phosphorus Challenge and includes online games, polls, quizzes, points and social networking to connect you with others learning about phosphorus. Read more…

Typical Thanksgiving Menu

3 ounces Turkey (pre-basted, frozen)
1/4 cup Turkey Gravy
1/2 cup Stuffing or Dressing
1/3 cup Mashed Potatoes
1/3 cup Sweet Potatoes
1/3 cup Green Peas
1/3 Green Beans
1/4 cup Cranberry Sauce
1 slice Pumpkin Pie
1 tablespoon whipped cream topping

Nutrients:  930 calories, 35 g protein, 128 g carbohydrate, 30 g fat, 112 g cholesterol, 1785 mg sodium, 1216 mg potassium, 515 mg phosphorus, 14 g fiber

Here’s a typical Thanksgiving meal with conservative portions. As you can see from the nutrients fat, sodium, potassium and phosphorus are quite high. Consider some changes to make your meal more kidney-friendly and help you to feel better afterwards! Read more…

I went to a DaVita Dietitian meeting this week and heard a talk by Dr. Shagun Chopra-Sonthalia, a nephrologist from San Diego, CA. I want to share with you some important points from the presentation about new emphasis on earlier phosphorus control. Read more…

A recent study by DaVita dietitian Debbie Benner, MA, RD and collaborators reveals that changing to nocturnal dialysis may make it easier for dialysis patients to eat enough protein and keep phosphorus normal. A poster about the study was recently presented at the American Society of Nephology national meeting in San Diego. Read more…

Trick or Treat?

Halloween candy is a treat so you may need some Halloween tips to help you stay in control of your kidney diet when tempted by all those extra sweets. Don’t be tricked into letting your potassium, phosphorus, blood sugar or waistline increase! Read more…

Most people aren’t concerned about potassium because healthy kidneys regulate potassium to keep blood levels normal. If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) you may need a low potassium diet as your kidneys stop working. Read more…