Meal ideas for chronic kidney disease
This page is packed with helpful snack ideas, lunch suggestions, and practical tips for preparing meals while managing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Whether you're looking for quick and easy snacks, healthy lunch options, or ways to add variety to your meals, we've got you covered.
All the ideas provided here are designed to fit within the guidelines of a kidney-friendly diet, making it easier to enjoy delicious and nutritious food while supporting your kidney health.
Eating & drinking tips
For school-aged children with chronic kidney disease
- Keep calm and comfort your child as they eat. This gives the message that mealtimes can be happy and safe. Reassure your child if he or she is finding this difficult.
- Try to eat as a family with all the sights, smells and sounds of mealtimes. Invite your child’s friends round so your child can see their friends enjoying food.
- If your child is old enough, involve them in preparing food and setting the table.
- Let your child try foods in their own time without pressure.
- Let your child play with food and get messy! Touching and playing with food is a great learning experience. Let them play with wet and dry spaghetti, dry lentils, finger painting with wet foods, cornflour mixed with water.
- Remove distractions such as television, toys and books before the meal starts.
- Only introduce new foods one at a time and it is fine for children to eat familiar foods if they feel unwell.
- Take your time but don’t let mealtimes go on for too long, 20-30 minutes is fine.
- Have suitable snacks available throughout the day for your child to help themselves to.
- Ask your child’s dietitian for help if you are unsure what they can eat.
- Keep mealtimes as positive and enjoyable as possible. Encourage and praise little steps; just a small mouthful or bite is a positive step. Stop feeding if your child is upset but continue to include them in the meal environment.
What snacks can I have If I am following a kidney friendly diet?
It can be difficult to know what snacks you can have when you have been advised to follow a low salt, low potassium or low phosphate diet. The following list provides examples of snacks which may be suitable.
Fruits
- Pineapple, canned
- Fruit cocktail, canned
- Apple
- Grapes (approx 10)
- Blackberries
- Plums x 2
- Blueberries
- Strawberries (approx 5)
- Raspberries
- Cherries Dried
- Clementine
- Sweetened cranberries
Vegetables
- Carrot sticks
- Baby corn
- Celery Sticks
- Peas
- Cucumber Slices
- Cherry tomatoes
- Slices of green / red bell peppers
- Radish
- Olives (wash off any salted water)
- Beansprouts
- Roasted chickpeas (unsalted)
- Sugar snap peas
- Courgette sticks
- Green beans
Savoury snacks
- Rice cakes
- Brioche
- Tortilla wraps ( cut and baked )
- Croissant
- Air fried pasta shapes
- Melba toast
- Toast (granary,wholemeal,brown or whitebread)
- Pitta bread
- Bread sticks
- Pancakes
- Bagel / crumpet with jam,marmalade,cream cheese
- Chapati (white flour)
- Breakfast cereals* (puffed rice, wheat biscuits,
- Cornflakes, frosted flakes, porridge or granola)
*Aim for less than 0.5g of sodium or less than 1.25g salt per 100g
Sweet snacks
- Shortbread /plain biscuits
- Pink wafer biscuits
- Rusks
- Jam biscuits
- Custard creams
- Marshmallows
- Boiled / chewy sweets
- Unsalted or sweet popcorn
- Doughnuts
- Plain or jam sponge
- Sweet waffles
- Jam Swiss roll
- Meringue nests / Lemon meringue
- Apple / pear crumble
- Jelly
Kidney-friendly lunch ideas
Stuck in a rut for lunch? It can sometimes be a challenge to think of new meal ideas which are suitable for you. Here are some lunch ideas that are quick, easy and tasty!
Sandwiches
Sandwiches can be made in so many different ways and with so many different fillings.
They don’t have to be boring! Try different breads or buns. Toast the bread if you prefer it like this.
Try different fillings such as freshly cooked chicken, beef from a cooked joint, tuna, a small amount of cheese or a small amount of peanut butter.
You can try adding different types of salad for added flavour; but remember to choose low potassium salad options if you have been advised to limit your potassium intake. You can even make a veggie-sandwich with hummus, cucumbers and other low potassium vegetables
Tacos
Tacos make a great quick lunch.
Just warm up some corn tortillas (hard or soft) and fill with beef or chicken seasoned with a low or no sodium taco seasoning.
Add your favorite low potassium veggies.
Salads
Try a salad, with or without meat, using mixed greens and suitable vegetables.
Try adding crunchy items such as a few tortilla strips or sunflower seeds.
Add a dressing and you have a quick lunch!.
Breakfast for lunch
Who says you can only eat breakfast foods at breakfast time?
Consider toast, rolls, suitable cereals, and fruit as a lunchtime option.
Planned-overs!
Some people call them leftovers; however, try to think of them as “planned overs”!.
You can make a little extra of your evening meal and keep this in the fridge for your lunch for the next day.
Soups and casseroles work really well for this.
Your dietitian will help you with any changes you may need to make to your or your baby’s diet.
