Are you staying home on Independence Day this year? With July 4th falling on a Wednesday, many people may decide to stay close to home. This means making home-cooked food and joining local friends and neighbors. Wondering what to make? We have some tasty kidney-friendly DaVita recipe suggestions to help with your holiday planning. If you are invited to a friend’s home think about bringing one of these dishes with you.

Appetizers

Keep appetizers easy, and make ahead if possible so you can focus on the main dishes. 

• Addictive Pretzels
• Creamy Cucumber Spread
• Deviled Eggs for Parties
• Hummus and Red Pepper Celery Logs

Entrees

Grilled entrees are the most popular for summer socials. We’ve included a few non-grilled recipes in case you prefer cooking in the kitchen. 

• Bob’s Oven-Baked Pork Ribs
• Braised Short Ribs of Beef (Costillas de Res Asadas)
• Citrus Salmon
• Easy Marinated Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Flank Steak and Vinaigrette Vegetables
• Herb-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin
• Sour Cream and Onion Turkey Burgers

Side Dishes

From salads to vegetables, we’ve made kidney-friendly versions of some of the most popular summer sides.  

• Bowtie Pasta Salad
• Coleslaw
• Cucumber and Radish Salad
• It’s Better Than Potato Salad
• Grill Thyme Corn on the Cob
• Grilled Multicolored Peppers and Onions

Desserts

Red, white and blue desserts are a hit for Independence Day. We’ve also included a few other favorites.

• Blueberry Peach Crisp
• Dessert Cups with Fresh Fruit
• Fruit Pizza
• Red, White and Blue Pie
• Strawberry Fluff Cake

Include several of these lower sodium, potassium and phosphorus recipes this Independence Day. Whether you are doing a stay-at-home celebration or visiting away from home, sticking to your kidney diet is easier when you have kidney-friendly foods.

Fluid Tips

In addition to the above recipes, here are some tips to help keep fluids in check if you are on a fluid limit:

• Stay cool—in the shade, near a fan, or wrap a wet bandana around your neck.
• Munch on ice slowly instead of drinking liquids to quench your thirst.
• Skip the higher sodium dishes and condiments that can cause more thirst.
• Enjoy a few frozen grapes and berries instead of liquids.

Happy Independence Day!