Special occasions

Help for holiday eating

Written by Margaret Caylor, R.D.

We’re all familiar with the busy schedule of the holiday season. We rush through shopping, decorating and holiday parties. And on top of all that, there is an extra challenge for people on dialysis:  continuing healthy eating habits during the holidays.

Is there a key to successfully following a kidney-friendly diet during this hectic time? Here are a few helpful ideas to enjoy the holidays without forsaking your dialysis diet.

Ask for help

Friends and family can be our biggest help in following food guidelines. Don’t be shy about letting them know what types of foods you can have and which ones you need to limit. You can even offer to bring something that you know will be good for you to eat to a party. If you’re not sure what to make, check out some of the tasty appetizers, snacks and desserts in the DaVita.com recipe section. Many people who taste what you bring won’t even realize they are eating foods lower in potassium, phosphorus and sodium because, in addition to being healthier for dialysis patients, the recipes are also delicious.   

Try to plan ahead for meals and snacks

If you know a shopping trip will last over mealtime, take a portable meal or snack with you. You don’t want to be hungry and stuck at a mall or surrounded by fast foods that may not be beneficial to you. There’s a recipe for Snack Mix at the end of this article that makes a tasty snack to tide you over.

If you’re attending a party in the evening, eat smaller meals earlier in the day so you can have a little extra at the party. If possible, ask the host ahead of time what will be served at the party. That way, you can actually have a picture in mind of which foods you can eat. Again, you can offer to bring a dish and that way you’ll be sure there will be a kidney-friendly food that you enjoy at the party.         

Set new goals each day

It is easy to get caught up in the season and think:  “Oh well, there’s no way I cay stay on my diet this month.” That can lead to a whole month of indulging in foods that may be harmful to your health. Instead, try to take one day at a time. If you do eat too much on one occasion, remember to get back on track the next day. Before you know it, you’ll have come through the holiday season with a pretty good eating record.

By asking for help, planning ahead for meals and setting new goals everyday you will hopefully enjoy the holidays, enjoy what you eat and enjoy the benefits of staying on your kidney-friendly diet.

Try this Snack Mix recipe to take along as a snack for a shopping trip or make it for your next holiday party.

Snack Mix

Diet type: CKD non-dialysis, Dialysis, Diabetes

Recipe taken from the National Kidney Foundation’s Living Well on Dialysis and submitted by DaVita dietitian Margaret in California.

Portions: 6

Serving size:  1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice cereal squares
• 1 cup corn cereal squares
• 1 cup unsalted tiny pretzel twists
• 3 cups unsalted popcorn
• 1/3 cup margarine, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Nutrients per serving

• Calories: 180
• Protein:             2.5 g
• Carbohydrate:    19 g
• Fat:                  11 g
• Cholesterol:       mg
• Sodium:            386 mg
• Potassium:        37 mg
• Phosphorus:      38 mg
• Calcium:           23 mg
• Fiber:                0.9 g

Renal and Renal Diabetic Food Choices

• 1 Starch
• 1 Fat

Carbohydrate Choices

• 1

Helpful Hints

• To reduce sodium further, use unsalted margarine or unsalted butter. Select the rice and corn cereal brand lowest in sodium.
• For an added holiday twist, add 1 cup dried cranberries to the snack mix after it has cooled.