Today’s Kidney Diet Cookbooks
Get free kidney-friendly recipe collections from DaVita dietitians.
Today’s Kidney Diet Cookbooks
Get free kidney-friendly recipe collections from DaVita dietitians.
Join the myDaVita community to connect with others, get kidney diet tools and more.
Register for FreeBy DaVita® Dietitian Shaun K. Riebl, MS, RD, LD/N
“The holidays can be so tough now that I have kidney disease. I have to watch everyone else eat the foods I love, like mashed potatoes, pie, and even macaroni and cheese. Maybe I should steer clear of the parties this year.”
Does this inner dialogue sound familiar to you? The holidays are fast approaching, but kidney disease shouldn’t stop you from enjoying some of your favorite foods. Helpful tips, a little planning and some kidney-friendly recipes can make the season less stressful. You can also join DaVita Diet Helper to help access a grocery list for the meals you plan to make. Whether you are hosting a holiday get-together, going to your neighbor’s house, or attending an office party, you can take steps to satisfying your taste buds without compromising your health.
Scenario: You’re hosting a party that allows you to plan the entire menu. This means you can control the ingredients so dishes are kidney-friendly. If you attend a party, offer to bring a dish. Below are some DaVita.com/Recipes that are delicious, good for people on a kidney diet, and sure to bring holiday cheer to all:
Protein-rich food such as turkey, chicken, fish, lean beef and fresh pork are a good choice for meeting the nutrition needs of someone on dialysis. If you have early stage kidney disease, be sure to watch your portion size (remember that one serving of lean meat is 3 ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards). The cranberry in the stuffing and chutney provides antioxidants and increases good cholesterol (HDL). Vegetables containing vitamin C (like cabbage and cauliflower) give you colon-protecting fiber and anti-inflammatory protection.
Regular mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese are restricted for people on a kidney diet because of the high potassium, phosphorus and sodium content. The modified versions listed above are better choices. Leaching potatoes is a cooking method that helps lower potassium.
The side dishes listed in the chart are tasty enough for everyone to enjoy. The same applies to desserts and beverages. DaVita.com has more than 600 recipes to satisfy any craving.
Scenario: You didn’t have time to cook something for your neighbor’s New Year’s Eve party, but you still want to ring in January 1 at their place, where you know there will be lots of food to snack on. So what can a person on a kidney diet eat at the party? Listed are items that are okay to eat in moderation at a holiday party.
Scenario: Today is your office’s annual holiday party. You thought you put it on your calendar, but it must’ve slipped your mind. Since you’re here, peruse the food table. Below are foods you may want to limit or avoid.
Before attending a party, it’s good to have a game plan so you can have fun, eat good food and still have your kidney health in mind. Here are some general things to consider when at holiday parties: