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Managing a Renal Diet

October 19, 2013

Managing a Renal Diet – Helpful Tips 

What does a renal diet consist of?

Kidney function is essential in removing waste material from your body that you consume when you eat. The kidneys eliminate waste products such as dietary protein called urea, as well as excess sodium, potassium and phosphate. When your kidney function is impaired, you may accumulate these products in your system, which can cause your body harm. Your doctor will recommend that you adhere to a strict “Renal Diet” to lessen this accumulation and its effects.

A simple guide to a renal diet:

Low potassium diet (Based on 2000 mg potassium per day diet restriction)

HIGH POTASSIUM FOODS(AVOID)

(greater than 201 mg of potassium per serving)

LOW POTASSIUM FOODS

(less than  or equal to 200 mg of potassium per serving)

RECOMMENDED SERVING SIZE

 

Fruits
  • Bananas, melons, oranges, nectarines, kiwi, mango, papaya, prunes, pomegranates, and cantaloupe
  •  Dates, dried fruits, dried figs
  • Apple, blueberries, cranberries, grapes, grapefruit, peaches, pears, pineapple, raspberries
  • Fresh fruit: 1 small or ½ large
  • Canned or frozen fruit: ½ cup
  • Berries: 1 cup
  • Grapes, cherries : 12
  • Dried fruit: ¼ cup
  • Juices: 4 oz or ½ cup
Vegetables
  • Avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, parsnips, pumpkin, vegetable juices, white potatoes, winter squash
  • Tomato and tomato-based products (puree, sauce or juice)
  • Deep-colored and leafy green vegetables (such as spinach)
  • White beans, black beans, refried beans, baked beans, lentils, red beans, lima beans, garbanzo beans, split peas
  • Asparagus, cabbage, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, green or wax beans, green peas or beans,  lettuce (iceberg), onions, radishes, turnips, water chestnuts
  • Cooked: ½ cup
  • Raw: 1 medium or 1 cup cut up
  • Juices: 4 oz or 1/ 2 cup
  • Nuts: ¼ cup or 1 oz
  • Seeds: 2 tablespoons
  • Legumes, dry beans, peas, cooked: ½ cup
 

 

  • Specially Prepared Potatoes:
  1. Peel and slice into 1/8 inch pieces
  2. Soak 1 cup potatoes in 5 cups of water for 2 hours
  3. Drain and rinse
  4. Cook in large amount of water
  5. Drain, mash, fry or serve plain
Others
  • Milk, yogurt
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Bran and bran products
  • Chocolate, granola, molasses, peanut butter
  • Salt substitute
  • Rice, noodles,  pasta, bread and bread products (not whole grains)
  • Angel cake, yellow cake, pies without chocolate or high potassium-fruit, cookies without nuts or chocolate
  • Meats, poultry, fish: 1 ounce cooked
  • Milk or Milk substitute: 4 ounces or ½ cup
  • Egg: 1 egg or ¼ cup egg substitute
  • Cheese: 1 oz
  • Cooked pasta, rice: 1/3 cup
  • Cereal, cooked: ½ cup
  • Cereal, ready-to –eat: 1 cup
  • Bread: 1 slice
  • Hamburger bun: ½ bun
  • Peanut butter: 2 tablespoons
  • Oils, margarine: 1 teaspoon
  • Mayonnaise: 1 tablespoon
  • Salad dressing: 2 tablespoons
  • Cookies: 1 cookie
  • Ice cream, sorbet, gelatin: ½ cup
  • Cake, 2 x 2 inches: 1 piece
  • Fruit pie: 1/6 of 8-inch pie
  • Sugar, jelly, jam: 1 table spoon
 

Low sodium diet (Based on 2000 mg sodium per day diet restriction)

HIGH SODIUM FOODS (AVOID)

 

LOW SODIUM FOODS RECOMMENDED SERVING SIZE

 

  • Table salt
  • Seasonings like soy sauce, steak sauce, oyster sauce, barbeque sauce, teriyaki sauce, garlic salt or onion salt
  • Most canned foods and frozen dinners (unless they say “low sodium”)
  • Pickled, cured, smoked or process meats, like ham, bacon, sausage or cold cuts
  • Salted starches, like chips, crackers, bread, cereals, and cookies (One serving contains: 150mg of sodium)
  • Canned or dehydrated soups like package noodle soup
  • Most restaurant foods, take-out foods, and fast foods
  • Commercial broths and gravies
  • Commercial mixes
  • “Instant Cereals”
  • Chocolate candy, chocolate desserts
  • Fresh foods:
  •   Fruits
  • Vegetables, starchy (1 serving  contains: 23 mg of sodium)
  • Meat (beef, veal,  or pork)
  • Fish
  • Poultry
  • Dairy products (milk, egg, cheese)
  • Frozen vegetables
  • Fresh seasoning (garlic, onion, lemon juice, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, low-sodium/salt-free seasoning blends)
  • Fresh or dried herbs and spices (basil, bay leaf, curry, ginger, sage, thyme)
  • Vinegar, regular or flavored
  • Homemade or low-sodium soups.
  • Canned food without added salt
  • Snacks
  • Unsalted popcorn, pretzels, plain tortilla or corn chips
  • Meats, poultry, fish: 1 ounce cooked
  • Milk or Milk substitute: 4 ounces or ½ cup
  • Egg: 1 egg or ¼ cup egg substitute
  • Cheese: 1 oz
  • Cooked pasta, rice: 1/3 cup
  • Cereal, cooked: ½ cup
  • Cereal, ready-to –eat: 1 cup
  • Bread: 1 slice
  • Dinner roll, biscuit: 1 small
  • Cornbread (2” square): 1 small
  • Melba toast: 4 each
  • Graham crackers (2” square): 2 each
  • Tortilla, flour (6”): 1
  • Doughnut: 1
  • Hamburger bun: ½ bun
  • Fresh fruit: 1 small or ½ large
  • Canned or frozen fruit: ½ cup
  • Berries: 1 cup
  • Grapes, cherries : 12
  • Dried fruit: ¼ cup
  • Juices: 4 oz or ½ cup
  • Cooked vegetables: ½ cup
  • Raw vegetables: 1 medium or 1 cup cut up
  • Juices (vegetable): 4 oz or 1/ 2 cup
  • Nuts: ¼ cup or 1 oz
  • Seeds: 2 tablespoons
  • Legumes, dry beans, peas, cooked: ½ cup
  • Peanut butter: 2 tablespoons
  • Oils, margarine: 1 teaspoon
  • Mayonnaise: 1 tablespoon
  • Salad dressing: 2 tablespoons
  • Cookies: 1 cookie
  • Ice cream, sorbet, gelatin: ½ cup
  • Cake, 2 x 2 inches: 1 piece
  • Fruit pie: 1/6 of 8-inch pie
  • Sugar, jelly, jam: 1 table spoon
  • Popcorn, sugar coated: 1 cup
  • Jell-O: ½ cup

Low phosphorus diet (Based on 1000mg of phosphorus per day diet restriction)

HIGH PHOSPHORUS FOODS (AVOID) RECOMMENDED SERVING SIZE
Fruit
  • Dried fruits
  • Meat, poultry, and fish: 1 serving of 7-8 ounces
  • Non-dairy creamers or Milk substitute: 4 oz or ½ cup
  • Egg: 2 egg or ½ cup egg substitute
  • Cheese: 4 oz
Vegetables
  • Lima beans, black beans, red beans, black-eyed peas, white beans, and Garbanzo beans, kidney beans, split peas, lentils
  • Dried vegetables
Others
  • Dark, whole or unrefined grains
  • Refrigerator doughs like Pillsbury
  • Chocolate
  • Beer and cola soft drinks
  • Dairy products such as milk, cheese, pudding, yogurt, and ice cream
  • Nuts and peanut butter

*Calcium-rich foods can increase your phosphorus level*

Low protein diet (Based on 7-8 ounces or 70-80 grams of protein per day diet restriction)

HIGH PROTEIN

(One ounce of meat or meat equivalent contains: 7 grams of protein)

LOW PROTEIN RECOMMENDED SERVING SIZE

 

Animal Source:

  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Veal
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Fish
  • Shellfish (Clams, Oysters, Shrimp, Lobster, Crab)
  • Liver
  • Venison
  • Tuna
  • Salmon
  • Eggs (1 egg=1 ounce of protein)

Dairy Products

  • Milk
  • Cheese

Other

  • Protein bars
Plant Source:

  • Breads
  • Cereals
  • Grains
  • Vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Meats, poultry or fish (fresh or frozen): 1 ounce cooked
  • Milk or Milk substitute: 4 ounces or ½ cup
  • Egg: 1 egg or ¼ cup egg substitute
  • Cheese unsalted (low sodium): 1 oz
  • Cheese, aged (Brick, Cheddar, Colby): 1 ounce
  • Cereal, cooked: ½ cup
  • Cereal, ready-to –eat: 1 cup
  • Peanut butter: 2 tablespoons
  • Clams: 1-1/2 ounces
  • Oysters: 2 ounces
  • Shrimp: 1 ounce
  • Lobster: 1-1/2 ounces
  • Crab: 1-1/2 ounces
  • Tuna (fresh or unsalted, packed in water): ¼ cups
  • Salmon(fresh or unsalted):1 ounce