What Foods Should You Eat With Kidney Disease?
Putting together a healthy meal plan for kidney disease can be a little challenging at first, especially if you do not know what foods not to eat with kidney disease. So often, people tend to focus so much on what they cannot eat that they become stressed to the point where they do not realize how much and what you can eat on a renal diet. The key is to focus on the main ingredients that you should avoid, while also focusing on the many options still available to you.
Want 7 free dinner meals? Head over here: Get A Free 7 Day Meal Plan For Your Renal Diet!
Here are some examples of foods that you should eat with kidney disease:
Especially in the United States, people tend to be reliant upon processed foods to build their meals. These items are full of ingredients that really are not good for anyone, especially a person with kidney disease. Processed foods such as boxed macaroni and cheese, meal helper kits, and even simple rice dishes that come in a box are full of massive amounts of sodium and tons of other chemicals. As a general rule, if it comes in a cardboard box, you shouldn't eat it. Instead, you should focus on natural foods that will help your body heal as well as fill you up. Knowing what foods you can eat on a renal diet helps when you need to make changes. Find ways to make those favorite recipes from scratch without the extra preservatives.
Fruits and vegetables are often considered to be natural medicine for your body, so the produce department is always a great place to start when you are grocery shopping. Especially foods such as bell peppers, cabbage, onions, and super-foods like berries, should always make it into your cart and on your dinner table. If you are in the later stages of kidney disease, make sure that you are also paying attention to your potassium intake, which may limit your produce options a little bit. You may wonder what produce foods not to eat with kidney disease, but that depends on your stage and dietary restrictions. Check with our meal planning solution for more options: 21 Day Vegetarian Meal Plan For Pre-Dialysis Kidney Disease
The Right Grains
Although your kidneys may not be able to process some of the whole grain options, you can still enjoy things like rice and pasta in moderation. Stick to the white versions of these foods to make it so your kidneys can more easily process the byproducts of what you eat because of potassium and phosphorus restrictions. If you are not restricted (Stage 3 or 4 CKD), you can enjoy the whole grain versions to increase fiber.
Herbs and Spices
You don't need salt to make dishes taste good. In fact, you might start to notice that foods naturally taste more delicious and have deeper flavors than you ever thought possible if you sprinkle in different spices that are part of what foods you can eat on a renal diet. When you need something extra to jazz up your recipes, go to fresh or dried herbs and salt-free spices to flavor your meals.
Depending on what stage of kidney disease you are in, you may or may not need to limit your protein intake. At least once a day, however, most patients are recommended to have a serving of lean protein. The best choices are usually fish, poultry, egg whites, and tofu. Fish is especially great for you, as it offers healthy omega 3's to your diet. You can use any of these options to build great and satisfying meals, and the options are only as limited as your imagination. Consider fajitas, tacos, casseroles, and more all starting with these great lean protein options.
Starting with these food groups and examples, you can start to build a delicious and healthy kidney disease meal plan. Always talk to your doctor before making new decisions about your diet or drastically changing what you eat for your kidney disease.
Thank you for visiting my page today to learn about what foods should you eat with kidney disease, learn more here.