Whether you’re just starting to learn about the kidney diet or you’re already familiar with it, you’re in the right place.

👉 Here are a few tips I like to share with people right away:

💎 There’s no “good” or “bad” food: It’s all about balance! What matters most is how much and how you combine foods. For example, if your phosphorus limit is 900 mg per day, you can eat foods with phosphorus until you hit that limit – yes, meat, beans, eggs, cheese, etc. Your restriction numbers help you set your daily maximums, so it’s important to stick to those. Under-eating can cause other health issues!

💎 You may need to monitor potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and protein: If you’re in stages 3, 4, or 5, these are things to keep an eye on. In the later stages, you might also need to consider fluids.

💎 Protein guidelines: A common recommendation is about 3 to 4 ounces of protein per meal, but your specific needs will depend on many factors. It’s also possible that you won’t need to restrict protein at all.

💎💎 Your kidney diet is unique: CKD diets aren’t one-size-fits-all. Tailoring your meals to your specific needs is key, so you can avoid complications and get the right nutrition.

💎 Advice can vary: Expect to get a lot of advice from others, but remember, everyone's CKD journey is different. What works for one person might not work for you, and it could even be harmful. Stay focused on your needs and health factors.

💎💎 Managing CKD takes a team: Here’s who you need on your side:

• Nephrologist: Manages the medical side, monitors kidney function, and prescribes treatments.

• Renal Dietitian: Helps you adjust your diet based on lab results and medical needs (often covered by insurance).

• Renal Nutritionist: (That’s me!) Guides you in creating a kidney-friendly diet based on the dietitian’s recommendations.

• You: The most important part of the team! You’re the one who takes action, advocates for your health, and stays engaged.

Together, this CKD Dream Team helps you manage your kidney health!

“What can I eat?” is usually people's first question.

The kidney diet can seem impossible with all the conflicting information and (harmful) options available.

The best way to help slow down or pause progression is by managing your diet, right?

So, right off the bat - expect a lot of advice from others, but remember, everyone’s journey with kidney health is unique. What works for one person may not work for another and could even be harmful. So, by managing your diet, what we mean is, ignore all the stuff you hear from everyone one else because the kidney diet must be tailored to your specific and unique needs and situation.

First, to tailor your diet, you  need your restriction numbers. To get these, you need to see a renal dietician. They will help you determine your numbers by reviewing your eGFR, medications, labs, activity levels, etc., and establish your maximum daily intake and nutrient limitations.

For CKD stages 3, 4, or 5, you may need to monitor potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and protein. If you have diabetes, carbohydrates are also essential to consider. In the late stages, fluids may also come into play.

Second, toss the cr@p and start fresh. Here’s the reality -There’s no “good” or “bad” food: What matters most is the amount and combination of foods you consume.  Let me explain… If, for example, your phosphorus limit is 800 mg per day, you can include any food with phosphorus until you reach that 800mg limit.

Daily phosphorus allowance: 800 mg

Phosphorus in a 3.5 oz ground beef patty (80% lean): 205 mg

Remaining phosphorus after your burger: 595 mg

Your restriction numbers help you set your daily and per meal and snack maximums, which are important to meet because under-consuming those nutrients can lead to other health issues and over consuming those nutrients leads to progression!

If you’re looking for help with your kidney diet, here’s the difference between a renal dietitian and a renal nutritionist:

Think of a renal dietitian as the architect—they focus more on the medical side than the actual day-to-day dietary side. They can help you manage your diet based on lab results and medical needs. They’re qualified to adjust your diet specifically to slow down kidney disease progression, especially if you’re in advanced stages or on dialysis. Their goal is to make changes based on a combination of medical and dietary factors, but they aren’t necessarily the best at helping you build and maintain a workable diet.  They design the blueprint based on your lab work, restrictions, and medical needs.

A renal nutritionist (me!) is like the construction foreman—I take that blueprint and help you   build and maintain your diet, turning it into a real, functional plan that works for you. My job is to make sure you can follow it in a way that fits your life, so it’s practical, sustainable, and something you can stick with long-term!

In short: if you need medical-level adjustments to your diet, go with a renal dietitian. If you’re looking for lifestyle and meal guidance, a renal nutritionist would be a good fit.

When it comes to eating for CKD, the first thing we usually do is find recipes. That's perfectly fine as long as you are sure the recipes you are using are not supplying too much or too little of those nutrients you need to monitor.

Your Nutritional Needs Depend on More Than Just Your CKD Stage.

Your CKD nutritional needs are shaped by many factors, including:

Your stage / eGFR

Lab results

Other health issues

Activity levels

Medications, etc

That’s why a personalized approach is key to protecting your kidney health.

Those recipes everyone searches for, finds online, buys and uses from cookbooks, and tells others about are more like suggestions.

What I mean is this:

Someone in stage 2 and someone in stage 4 are both using that recipe.

Who is damaging their kidneys?

BOTH.

Under-consuming nutrients leads to the development of new health issues, and over-consuming nutrients leads to progression.

Here’s the catch: Most online information and recipes are designed for Stage 3—the largest CKD group—within stage 3, there is a considerable gap between upper 3A and lower 3B.

Therefore, the nutritional requirements are completely different.

We MUST make sure the recipes we choose fit us. I'm not saying this to worry you; I want to inform you that things aren't as easy as finding recipes, but it's where we start! So, please keep that in mind :-)

Check out the Recipe Reliance Trap Video on my Media page