4-Day Kidney Diet Menu for a Busy Holiday Season

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or diagnosis from a physician.

The holiday season is almost here! With all the planning, shopping and decorating, you may find it challenging to stick with a kidney-friendly diet while keeping up with a busier-than-ever schedule. Fear not, for the DaVita® dietitian team has created a 4-day menu to rescue you from stressful meal planning during the holiday rush.

Day 1

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Tips:

  • Buy extra bagels and use for sandwiches. Bagels come in many sizes and flavors. Choose the ones best suited to your diet.
  • Cook extra hard-boiled eggs for a quick protein source. If cholesterol is a concern, forget the yolk and eat the egg whites.
  • While chicken is baking make the macaroni salad, then take time to wrap a few gifts or plan your holiday to-do list.
  • Buy prepared holiday bread, pound cake and cookies, or make them yourself from a DaVita.com recipe. Make extra batches to take to a holiday event or for a homemade gift from your kitchen.

Day 2

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snacks

Tips:

  • Assemble the breakfast casserole the evening before or early morning and bake while you are getting ready for the day.
  • Wrap individual servings of the breakfast casserole and refrigerate or freeze it to reheat for a quick meal later.
  • Look for bargains on fresh berries or buy a bag of frozen mixed berries.
  • Use leftover chicken from the first day to make Tasty Chicken Salad. Serve as a sandwich or add as a protein topping on your favorite salad mix.
  • Choose your favorite vegetables and buy them fresh or frozen. Steam or microwave vegetables for a quick, healthy side dish.

Day 3

Breakfast

  • Hot cereal (cream of wheat, grits, malt-o-meal or oatmeal)
  • Rice milk (unenriched) or 1/2-cup low-fat milk
  • Mixed berries
  • 1/4 cup cottage cheese (if you need more protein)
  • Coffee or tea

Lunch

Dinner

Snacks

Tips:

  • Use leftover salmon from day two’s dinner to make Salmon Salad Sandwich Filling.
  • Add leftover Homestyle Macaroni Salad from day one.
  • While meatloaf is cooking, prepare garlic mashed potatoes. Use a double-cook method to lower potassium in the potatoes.
  • For a veggie twist, make coleslaw or add vinaigrette dressing to a cooked vegetable mix.
  • When you’re done eating, make a leftover plate to reheat for a quick meal tomorrow.

Day 4 (no-cook day)

Breakfast

  • Cold cereal (cornflakes, Rice Krispies®, Corn or Rice Chex®)
  • Rice milk (unenriched) or 1/2 cup lowfat milk
  • Mixed berries
  • 1/4 cup cottage cheese (if you need more protein)
  • Coffee or tea

Lunch

  • Sandwich of your choice (turkey, chicken, roast beef, egg salad, tuna)
  • Lettuce, one thin slice tomato, onion, roasted red peppers and mayonnaise or mustard
  • Fresh fruit (apple, grapes, pears or berries)
  • Cookies
  • Lemon-lime soda, iced tea or sparkling water

Dinner

  • Sandwich of your choice (turkey, chicken, roast beef, egg salad, tuna)
  • Lettuce, one thin slice tomato, onion, roasted red peppers and mayonnaise or mustard
  • Fresh fruit (apple, grapes, pears or berries)
  • Cookies
  • Lemon-lime soda, iced tea or sparkling water

Snacks

  • Leftovers: Reheat leftover plate from the previous day’s meatloaf dinner or reheat a serving of day two’s breakfast casserole. Add a salad or cooked vegetable.
  • Leftover cranberry nut bread or sour cream apple bread with whipped topping, or cookies or fresh fruit
  • Unflavored sparkling water, iced tea or lemon-lime soda

Tips:

  • It’s time to clean out the refrigerator and use up leftovers from previous days.
  • Store copies of your favorite recipes in a cookbook or on myDaVita.com to make again during the holiday rush.
  • Always have a few easy go-to and no-cook foods for a quick meal.

Stay healthy with a kidney-friendly menu

Creating your own holiday menu can be simple. First, look for easy-to-make recipes and sides that require minimal preparation or cooking. Next, remember to use leftovers for a second meal. And above all, stay healthy through the holidays with a plan that helps you stick with your kidney diet.