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Overcoming Diet Obstacles: Together We are Better
Overcoming diet obstacles may seem like an impossible challenge at times. When I am asked to give a nutrition talk, I often begin by asking the question "Who here enjoys following their diet?" and ask for a show of hands. Typically not one hand will be raised and some good-natured laughter follows. I point out […]
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Phosphorus Update: And You Thought Dark Colas were Bad News
So you’ve been avoiding dark colas to help manage your serum phosphorus level. Yet, you are still struggling to keep it in goal range. Well, I’m here to tell you there are other phosphorus laden beverages that may cause phosphorus to run high. The food industry has been using more and more phosphate additives to […]
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Aloe Vera
Last updated: July 9, 2026 Aloe vera has been used topically for many years. Recently there has been interest in drinking aloe vera. Products such as aloe juice and aloe water have been popping up on store shelves. These products have claims of improved digestion, weight loss, lowering blood glucose, improved skin, and a boost […]
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Best Cheese Choices for a Kidney Diet
Last updated: June 22, 2026 Kidney patients miss cheese. Bottom line. I work with dialysis patients every day and we talk about cheese A LOT. It is often limited on the kidney diet due to the high amount of phosphorus and in some cases sodium content as well. Cheese or no cheese? What most patients […]
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Dining out Successfully at Mitchell’s Fish Market
I recently went to Mitchell’s Fish Market in Livonia, Michigan. Mitchell’s is known for having high quality seafood options. At restaurants that specialize in seafood, it can be easy to find choices that are high in protein. For dialysis patients, eating high quality protein like that found in seafood may help albumin to trend upwards. Here […]
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Food for Thought: Eating with Friends and Family
Family dinners. Birthday parties. Summer picnics. Social gatherings. Holiday events. All involve eating. Have you been caught in a situation where you couldn’t enjoy yourself because the food served wasn’t "kidney-friendly"? Or have you tried to plan a home-cooked meal and struggled with choices? Eating Challenges In social situations, let’s face it, some people are ‘food […]
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Dietary Protein, BUN and Creatinine: What's the Connection?
If you have been told you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you may be familiar with the lab values BUN and creatinine. BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. It is a measure of how much urea is present in the blood. Urea is a waste product of protein breakdown. Normal functioning kidneys are able to […]
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Slow Cooker Winter Warm-up Meals
A slow cooker is a versatile kitchen appliance that comes in a variety of sizes. Extra-small slow cookers hold 1-2 quarts; extra-large slow cookers hold 8-10 quarts. The 4-6 quart size is typically used for average size family meals. Slow cookers range from about $15 to $80 dollars. But the most common price range is $20-$40. […]
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Melons and the Kidney Diet: Best Choices
Last updated: June 22, 2026 Melons are a juicy treat in the summer, but you need to be aware of the potassium and fluid content if you are on a low potassium renal diet or fluid restriction. Blood test potassium levels should be between 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L for dialysis patients. Levels below or above […]
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What’s in Your Pantry? Kidney-friendly Ingredients
In my last blog I discussed essential must-have ingredients in a renal-friendly refrigerator. Now let’s get into the pantry to help you create incredible home-cooked meals instead of dining out or grabbing take-out meals. Remember, planning and preparation is the key to successful eating. Try these quick, easy DaVita.com recipes, including my favorite one for making […]
