Processed meats can be high in sodium and phosphorus, which aren't good for people with kidney disease. When you go grocery shopping, choose lean cuts of fresh meat, chicken or fish for broiling. This will give you the high-quality protein that is necessary on a CKD non-dialysis diet or dialysis diet.
For example, processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and ham are the worst for your kidneys because they contain high levels of sodium. Red meat such as beef, pork, and lamb is also bad for your kidneys, but to a lesser extent than processed meats.
Limit protein in all stages of kidney disease. Limit the portion sizes of protein you eat to limit the amount of work your kidneys have to do. Foods that are high in protein are meat, poultry (chicken and turkey), fish, eggs, and dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt).
Packing your sack lunch
Here are a few tips for putting together a super sack lunch: Fresh is always best. If possible, make meat sandwiches from low sodium, fresh-cooked meats such as chicken, turkey breast, roast beef, pork or fish. Use meat leftover from dinner, or cook fresh meat specifically for lunch sandwiches.
If you find yourself occasionally craving a fast food hamburger, it's fine to have one every now and then. Remember to order your hamburger with no salt, pickles or grill seasoning, so you can limit sodium and potassium. Also, cheese is limited for those on the dialysis diet.
With kidney health in mind, it's best to buy fresh chicken and prepare it at home to your liking. Unfortunately, pre-made rotisserie chicken is high in sodium and can negatively affect kidney function.
Pizzas are usually high in salt, potassium and fat. If your potassium levels aren't a problem, vegetarian pizzas (often called Roma) are probably the healthiest choice. Chicken pizzas may contain less salt than those with salami, pepperoni or ham/bacon.
Breakfast is a favorite meal in many households, with staples like fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal that can all fit nicely in a kidney-friendly diet.
Popular dishes. Turkey is the most common food on Thanksgiving Day but renal patients should opt for natural fresh or frozen turkey. The turkey should be prepared with low-salt broth and salt-free rub. Basted turkey which typically contains too much salt must be avoided.
Grilled beef, pork, chicken and seafood
The protein in meat contains all the essential amino acids, so regardless of the portion for a high protein dialysis diet or low protein chronic kidney disease diet, it is one of the best sources of high quality protein.
Tuna is kidney-friendly and an inexpensive source of protein. Make homemade tuna salad with yogurt instead of mayo and throw it into a pita for a delicious meal. Low-sodium chicken broth or bouillon cubes. Make a quick and easy soup by heating these up and adding some noodles and frozen veggies to make a noodle soup.
Avoid salty items like soy sauce, French fries (also high in potassium), and macaroni and cheese. Instead, order vegetables like carrots, green beans, or corn.
Shrimp is low in phosphorus, making it super beneficial for your kidneys. When it comes to kidney disease, your system has a hard time removing phosphorus from the body. So when Taco Tuesday comes around, consider making these easy shrimp tacos (within the diet recommendations of your clinicians).
Particularly, junk food such as chips, cookies, and ice cream, can negatively impact your kidney function. Of course, the key is good balance. While high-sugar and high-salt meals can negatively impact your kidneys, it does not necessarily mean that you must cut them out completely.
Most dairy foods are very high in phosphorus. People with kidney disease should limit their daily intake of milk, yogurt, and cheese to ½ cup milk, or ½ cup yogurt or 1-ounce cheese. If you do eat high-phosphorus foods, ask your doctor for a phosphate binder to be taken with your meals.
Most people with chronic kidney disease need between 60-70 grams of protein a day, which is the amount in about 7 ounces of meat or 10 large eggs.
It is important to use quality oil and to heat it to the proper temperature. Examples of foods to deep-fry for a kidney diet are protein sources such as small, whole fish, fillets or fish sticks; calamari, shrimp or scallops; and chicken.
Kidney Friendly Taco Order
Tacos can absolutely be a part of fast foods that are okay for kidney disease – it just takes some variation in the typical orders to make them more kidney friendly.