Build Your 7-Day Meal Plan for Kidney Disease: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Everything in Between
How can a meal plan help you manage kidney disease?
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you may have been told to change your eating plan. Eating well for kidney disease can help give you energy, support a healthy body weight, and prevent muscle loss. Adequate nutrition can also help slow down kidney disease progression.
Your kidneys help keep nutrients and minerals in balance, but having CKD causes your kidneys to work harder to keep this balance. As CKD progresses, your kidneys will not work as well and changes to your eating plan & habits may be necessary.*
*Remember, although a kidney-friendly eating plan follows many of the same basic ideas as a general, well-balanced eating plan, you may need to watch or limit certain foods. Recommendations vary based on stage of CKD as well as other factors such as the presence of additional conditions such as diabetes. Please be sure to speak with your doctor and/or healthcare team regarding your individual needs prior to making any changes to your current routine.
How a dietitian can help
Are you confused about how, what, and when to eat for your chronic kidney disease? A renal dietitian can help!
A renal dietitian is a registered dietitian (RD) with specialized training in kidney disease. They are nutrition experts who can create a personalized plan based on blood test results, health conditions, and recommendations from your medical team.
With CKD, your nutrition needs can change over time. Having a dietitian on your care team can help you keep up with these adjustments as your kidney health evolves. They’ll also be there to provide ongoing support and accountability to help you stick to your nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Changing your eating habits can feel hard, but working with a registered dietitian can make managing kidney disease so much easier! Click here to see if you’re eligible to meet with a Season Dietitian for free.
General guidelines for maintaining a kidney-friendly nutrition plan
Everyone is different, so your needs may vary based on your kidney function. You may need to limit your intake of protein, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium depending on your doctor’s recommendations. Your medical team will be keeping an eye on your blood test results to help identify any changes that you may need to make. Blood tests can also let you know if the changes you’ve made are helping to support your kidney function.
To give you some inspiration, we’ve put together a sample 7 day kidney-friendly meal guide. Your dietitian can suggest appropriate serving sizes. Always speak with your physician and medical team before making any changes to your current nutrition plan and routine. Working with a dietitian is also important to create a personalized plan for you and your lifestyle.
Foods to limit on your diet-plan
When it comes to nutrition and kidney health, there is no “one size fits all” plan. However, you may be instructed to limit your intake of sodium, potassium, and/or phosphorus.
Sodium
Sodium is commonly used in food preparation and is often found in processed, canned, and packaged foods. It is also found in many processed meats (bacon, sausage, deli meat), seasonings, and condiments. To cut down on sodium, follow these tips:
General guidelines:
Limit meals to 650 mg of sodium or less each.
Limit snacks to a total of 300 mg of sodium or less per day.
Compared Nutrition Facts labels of various brands.
Avoid foods that have sodium/salt in the first 5 ingredients. Look for sodium-containing ingredients that may not be as obvious. For example:
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
Disodium phosphate
Sodium alginate
Sodium citrate
Sodium nitrite
Look for food labels that say:
Sodium free
Salt free
Very low sodium
Low sodium
Reduced or less sodium
No salt added
Unsalted
Lightly salted
Remember, everyone is different! Speak with your doctor or registered dietitian to determine your sodium goal.
Potassium
With CKD, you may need to limit your potassium intake to keep your blood potassium levels within the recommended range.
Choose foods that are lower in potassium.
Opt for vegetables lower in potassium (<200 mg per serving) - asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, mushrooms, radishes.
Opt for fruits lower in potassium - apples, berries, grapefruit, peaches, pineapple, watermelon.
Remember: You do not need to avoid high potassium foods altogether. If you enjoy these foods and want to incorporate them into your meal plan, focus on having smaller portions (i.e., half of an orange, one slice of tomato on a sandwich).
Avoid salt substitutes & seasonings that contain potassium. Instead, use spices and herbs in cooking and at the table.
Read the nutrition facts label on packaged foods.
Pay close attention to serving size.
Drain & rinse canned fruits and vegetables before eating.
Phosphorus
Speak with your provider to determine whether you need to limit phosphorus and how much phosphorus is right for you. Remember, you do not need to avoid phosphorus-containing foods altogether!
When it comes to phosphorus, it’s important to distinguish between organic phosphorus (found naturally in protein-rich foods) versus inorganic phosphorus (added to foods during processing for flavor, color, and to increase shelf life).
To keep your phosphorus within the recommended range?
Eat smaller portions of foods that are high in protein at meals and for snacks.
Meat, poultry, & fish → about 3 ounces cooked, which is similar to the size of a deck of cards
Dairy foods → ½ cup of milk or yogurt, or one slice of cheese
Beans & lentils → about ½ cup of cooked beans or lentils
Nuts → about ¼ cup of nuts
Check the Nutrition Facts label on packaged and processed foods for added phosphorus. Look for phosphorus on the ingredient list or ingredients that contain the word “PHOS”
Eat fresh or frozen fruits & vegetables if and when you can!
Nutrition is an important part of managing, and slowing the progression of, CKD. If you have CKD, working with a dietitian will help you stay on track and ensure you’re following a personalized plan suited to your needs.
