Protein & Renal Diet Menu

According to information from the medical website Medline Plus, a renal diet addresses diseases affecting the functionality of the kidneys. Follow a renal diet with the goal to eliminate as much stress from the kidneys as possible, giving them extra time to heal and delaying the onset of the underlying condition. Cooking while on a renal diet can seem challenging at first, but with some time, practice and motivation it can become a rewarding experience.

Renal Diet Considerations

• Familiarize yourself with the crux of a renal diet to understand the limitations within which you must operate while preparing meals under a renal approach. Stick to the basics: a low-sodium, low-protein, low-potassium diet, necessitating a number of dietary changes to properly comply with the plan. First and foremost, eliminate your consumption of table salt while heavily curtailing your consumption of high-protein products such as meat and dairy. Finally, avoid foods containing abnormally high levels of potassium where possible. According to the University of Wisconsin, damaged kidneys will have a hard time processing these foods in a timely fashion, leading to the buildup of mineral imbalances and waste products within the body.

Renal Diet Menu

• For breakfast on a renal diet, prepare yourself homemade whole-grain pancakes (using whole-wheat flour) with fresh berries. Use just egg whites when preparing the pancakes to lower the total amount of protein contained within the dish, and serve the meal with a small fruit salad on the side containing diced apples, pears, grapes and cherries. These fruits, all low in potassium, will work well with your renal diet approach.

  For lunch, eat a turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread. Use fresh turkey (not lunch meat) to lower your sodium intake, and only use one or two slices at most to limit the protein content of the meal. Load the sandwich down with lettuce, and add a bit of mayo to make it more filling (but avoid tomatoes, as they have high potassium levels), and serve it with a pickle on the side.

  For dinner, prepare yourself a large serving of whole-wheat pasta with Alfredo sauce, served with a side salad containing spinach and cucumber and topped with a balsamic dressing. For dessert, indulge in a small piece of cake, but avoid chocolate cake, as chocolate also has a high level of potassium.

  As snacks throughout the day, consider unsalted nuts, pretzels or potato chips, dried fruit, apples, pears, watermelon, berries or other low-potassium fruits.