If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease, one of the first steps is assessing your dietary habits and making changes. While choosing kidney-friendly foods can help residents of Houston, Texas, feel and function better, it isn’t always easy.
That’s especially true during the holidays, when food takes center stage and temptations are seemingly around every corner. The team at Renal Clinic of Houston is here to help with a list of nutritious foods you can build your holiday meal planning around.
Whether you’re whipping up a quick omelet or planning to bake something special, egg whites are a great way to get some protein into your diet without high levels of phosphorus.
An omelet or egg scramble is a great way to start the day, and can also stand in for dinner on days when you’re too tired to plan and prepare something more involved. Throw in some leftover vegetables and a bit of cheese and you have a healthy and delicious meal.
There are plenty of recipes for healthy desserts that use egg whites instead of whole eggs. Find some favorites to make for yourself or to share at holiday gatherings.
Endlessly versatile, there’s a reason why chicken is among the most popular protein options in America. For people with kidney disease, it’s important to avoid eating the skin and to keep portion sizes small to manage protein levels.
During the busy holiday season, few things are more convenient than grabbing a rotisserie chicken and making it the center of a healthy meal. Paired with a healthy whole grain and a couple of roasted vegetables, you have a fast and healthy dinner, and perhaps enough leftovers for a lunch or two.
Cranberries have become such an ingrained part of holiday meals that conversation can get heated over the best preparation and presentation of this often-undervalued fruit. Low in phosphorus, potassium, and sodium, cranberries bring a punch of tart flavor that pairs especially well with citrus.
Look around for some cranberry sauce or chutney recipes with low sugar, or bake some cranberries into scones or muffins. You can use dried, fresh, or frozen cranberries interchangeably in many baking recipes.
If you prefer a meatless diet or are trying to limit your protein consumption, shiitake mushrooms are a great way to get a powerful burst of umami flavor. They provide a decent amount of protein and fiber, and are packed with copper, manganese, selenium, and B vitamins.
Incorporated as part of a stir fry, grain bowl, or ramen recipe, mushrooms bring a lot to the table. You can usually find fresh shiitake mushrooms at larger grocery stores, and they’re also available dried online.
When you’re searching for a salty snack, macadamia nuts (preferably a low-salt preparation) are a great choice. They have less phosphorus and potassium than almonds or peanuts, and have a wonderfully different texture than many roasted nuts.
Macadamia nuts also bring a boost of B vitamins, iron, copper, and calcium, as well as healthy fats. Be sure to check with your doctor to ensure nuts are a good fit for your current kidney health.
The lowly onion doesn’t get nearly the accolades it deserves. Sautéed with olive oil (another kidney-friendly food) and garlic, onions can elevate virtually any savory dish. You can cook them over low heat for a long time to create delicious caramelized onions, or sprinkle chopped raw onions into a salad or salsa.
Onions are rich in manganese, vitamin C, and B vitamins. They also deliver a boost to your gut health by providing prebiotic fibers to help beneficial bacteria thrive.
While berries aren’t in season during the holidays, you can almost always find excellent frozen options, whether you choose to buy individual berries or a blend. Adding berries to holiday desserts or even savory foods brings a burst of freshness to dishes, and also amps up the nutritional value.
Berries contain antioxidants, which help protect against diabetes and heart disease. They also increase your consumption of vitamin C, folate, and manganese.
It doesn’t take long for people with kidney disease to learn which foods to avoid. What can be more challenging is discovering just how many delicious foods not only avoid harming your kidneys but also offer additional benefits to your overall health.
These foods are a great starting place to create a holiday meal plan that aligns with your kidney health. The team at Renal Clinic of Houston wishes you a healthy and happy holiday season, and reminds you that when questions or concerns arise, we’re always happy to meet with you to explore solutions.
