Creating a Kidney Friendly Diet Plan for the Holidays

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and of course, good food. Avoiding the delicious goodness of that time can be hard, but not impossible. It’s not all bad news though, there’s also the opportunity for creativity. Kidney friendly diets can be both delicious and nutritious.

Here are some tips and ideas to help you make the most of your holiday season without sacrificing your kidney health.

Plan Ahead

One of the best things you can do to stay on track during the holidays is to plan ahead. This means knowing what kidney friendly foods are available and making a list of what you’ll need to buy and make ahead of time.

According to the CDC, “More than 1 in 7, that is 15% of US adults or 37 million people, are estimated to have CKD.” So if you’re hosting holiday festivities, be sure to let your guests know about your kidney friendly diet restrictions so they can be mindful of what they bring. 

Shop for Your Kidney Friendly Holiday Meal

When it comes to holiday shopping, the key is to focus on kidney friendly foods that are both delicious and nutritious.

Some great kidney friendly foods to include on your holiday shopping list are:

• Cranberry sauce
• Apples
• Sweet potatoes
• Green beans
• Fresh turkey or chicken breasts

And don’t forget the basics like kidney friendly seasonings, oils, and vinegar that will make your holiday meal even more special and will help to amp up the taste.

Meal Prep Ideas That Can Help

Another great way to stay on track during the holidays is to meal prep ahead of time. This means cooking kidney friendly dishes in advance and portioning them out so you have healthy meals ready to go when you need them.

Some kidney friendly holiday substitutions you can make are:

• Apple cider instead of eggnog
• Homemade stuffing instead of boxed stuffing. Use a low-sodium broth instead of regular
• Cranberry sauce – Cranberries are low in potassium and go great with your thanksgiving meal
• Try using a fresh turkey instead of frozen or basted. Basted turkey contains a lot of sodium
• Cranberry apple pie instead of pumpkin pie

By following these tips, you can make the most of your kidney friendly holiday season and enjoy delicious, nutritious meals that will leave you feeling your best.

Making kidney friendly dishes ahead of time will not only help you stay on track during the holidays, but it’ll also give you more time to enjoy the company of your friends and family. Make it fun, add your own twist to recipes, and enjoy!

Consult with a Kidney Nutritionist at Texas Kidney Institute

If you have kidney disease and are looking for more tips on how to create a kidney friendly diet, the Texas Kidney Institute can help. Our kidney nutrition counseling experts will help you create a customized kidney friendly diet plan that fits your needs.

You can also check out our helpful recipe library to get started on your kidney friendly holiday meal planning. Don’t miss out this holiday season.