Pineapple is a symbol of friendship and hospitality as well as a sense of welcome, good cheer, warmth and family affection. It’s also a great fruit choice for the kidney diet. The DaVita Dietitian team admires the pineapple so much they chose it for their logo to go with their motto “Improving Nutrition Together”.

Pineapple fits a low potassium diet plan with 125 mg potassium for 1/2 cup frozen or canned (chunks or crushed), 2 rings or 3/4 cup fresh. Read more…

      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. 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…

What kind of noodles do you eat? Growing up my family ate egg noodles and spaghetti.  As an adult, I’ve discovered a whole world of noodles from around the world. A basic noodle recipe calls for flour, water, egg and salt.

Types of flour used in noodles include wheat flour, (white or whole wheat) rice flour and buckwheat. Some noodles are made with Read more…

Many chronic kidney disease patients I’ve worked with have questions about what’s important with potassium control. Not all people with CKD need to restrict potassium.  In early stages of CKD, potassium usually is not a problem because the kidneys still remove enough to keep blood levels normal.  In some cases, elevated potassium may return to normal with adjustments in medication, especially if a person is on potassium sparing diuretics.  If medications are adjusted and levels continue above normal, a lower potassium diet is needed.

Kalium-Latin for Potassium

What’s the link between potassium and kidneys?  90% of the excess potassium consumed through diet is removed by your kidneys. Read more…

I love frozen blueberries.  I usually fill a small bowl and eat them as they thaw while working at my computer.  My friend loves dried wild blueberries because they’re packed full of flavor—and because there’s over 6 grams of fiber per serving.  That’s great news for anyone following a low potassium kidney diet—so many high fiber foods end up on the limit list due to higher potassium or phosphorus content.  An added plus is there’s only 112 mg of potassium in a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries; phosphorus and sodium are low too. Read more…

Last week I wrote about making a PLAN for stretching your food dollars when following a kidney friendly diet. I hope you tried some of those suggestions. This week I want to zero-in on produce to help you find ways to save on your fruit and veggie budget. Read more…

Valentine

Chocolate covered nuts may not be on the Valentine’s Day menu for sweethearts with chronic kidney disease this February 14th, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the day with special treats.  A few guidelines can help you treat yourself or your sweetie and still stay within the sodium, potassium and phosphorus targets for a renal diet.

Kidney Diet Tips for Eating Out on Valentine’s Day

• Make dinner reservations!  A long wait and hunger contributes to less control over food choices.
• Study the menu online before going to the restaurant. Read more…

J is for…Jicama
Kidney diets are challenging but not impossible to follow while still enjoying great tasting foods.  One way to add enjoyment is to try new foods previously not included in routine food choices. Have you ever tried jicama?

Jicama is the tuberous root of a native Mexican vine also known as Mexican or Chinese Turnip, Mexican Potato or yam bean root. The brown skin and must be removed before eating it. Jicama has a crisp texture similar to a fresh pear, apple or water chestnuts. It has a slightly sweet taste, sometimes described as a cross between an apple and potato. It’s often eaten raw with lemon or lime juice and a sprinkle of chili powder or included on a vegetable tray with dip. Jicama is also great when added to salads, soups or stir-fry dishes. In addition to eating it raw, jicama  can be steamed, baked, or boiled.

Nutrients
Jicama is a great choice for renal patients following a kidney diet because it is low in sodium, potassium and phosphorus. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber. For people with diabetes, jicama is low in carbohydrates and calories.

1/2 cup Jicama

*********Calories   Protein   Carbohydrate    Fiber      Potassium     Phosphorus    Sodium
raw         23            0.4 g             5 g           2.9 g          90 mg            11mg            2 mg
cooked   19            0.3 g             4 g           2.5 g          68 mg             8 mg            2 mg

Look for jicama during your next grocery store trip and try it as a new kidney-friendly addition to your kidney diet.

Eating breakfast out is a special treat for some and a daily routine for others.

Knowing the best choices for a kidney diet helps you stay within your goals to keep intake low in sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Here are some tips to help keep a kidney-friendly breakfast.

• Order poached or fried eggs. Scrambled eggs may have added milk and salt. Request no added salt.
• Low cholesterol egg product is lower in phosphorus compared to eggs. Request it instead of scrambled eggs, or to use in omelets.
• Choose omelets made with lower potassium vegetables such as onion, bell pepper, mushrooms. Go easy on the cheese or request cream cheese to replace American, cheddar or Swiss cheese.
• Avoid avocado, chili, salty meats and cheese as omelet fillings.
• Limit bacon to 1-2 slices occasionally. Avoid other higher sodium meats like sausage, ham, Canadian bacon and lox.
• Use caution when ordering fast food breakfast sandwiches. English muffins or sourdough toast are much lower in phosphorus and sodium than biscuits. Omit the cheese.
• Limit high potassium breakfast foods like hash browns and orange juice. One small hash brown patty with a small amount of ketchup may be ok occasionally if other potassium sources are limited.
• Choose apple, grape or cranberry juice. Order a small glass if fluids are limited or request fresh berries instead.
• Pancakes and waffles are high in phosphorus and sodium. French toast is a better choice.
• Decline refills on coffee, tea or water if fluids are limited.
• Ask for nondairy creamer for cereal instead of milk.

For ideas on breakfast meals check out the breakfast recipes on DaVita.com.