Kidney Diet Tips

Kidney Diet Cookbooks

One of the biggest helpers with learning about and following a kidney diet is a good kidney diet cookbook. Several years ago I posted the National Kidney Foundation kidney cookbook list for you to use as a guide.

Here’s a link to the latest version: http://www.kidney.org/professionals/CRN/cookbooks.cfm. I also want to tell you about some of the recipe books for dialysis and chronic kidney patients that I have in my collection.

At the top of my list is my own renal cookbook called “Cooking for David: A Culinary Dialysis Cookbook”. I spent over 3 years working with my co-author and friend Dorothy Gordon, developing recipes and gathering information to help people understand and follow the dialysis diet. Dorothy and I developed over 160 recipes modified in sodium, potassium and phosphorus and all were approved by David, Dorothy’s husband who was on dialysis. Our goal was to make kidney-friendly recipes the whole family could enjoy.

Some of the cookbook features include:

  • pre-planned menus
  • a meal planning guide
  • the kidney diet food pyramid
  • explanation of the kidney diet prescription
  • nutrient analysis for protein, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, phosphorus and fiber
  • renal and renal diabetic food choices for each recipe
  • food lists for high and low sodium, potassium and phosphorus foods

My favorite recipes include Tortilla Rollups, Strawberry Pudding, Busy Day Frittata, Meat Loaf with BBQ Sauce Glaze, Fish Stew, Chicken Chow Mein and Deviled Green Beans.

For more information and weekly recipes with helpful hints visit www.CulinaryKidneyCooks.com. The book is also available on www.Amazon.com, where you can read reviews from people who have purchased the book.

Earlier this year I attended the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical meeting in Orlando. One of the sessions featured renal dietitian Joan Brookhyser Hogan, RD and Chef Duane Sunwald and a newly published book, “The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease: Preserving Kidney Function with Plant-Based Eating”. This book offers 38 vegetarian recipes plus information on meal planning, supplements, vegetarian diet benefits and several food composition tables for vegetarian food products. You can find this book on www.Amazon.com.

Another book in my library is a collection of recipes by DaVita dietitian Nina Kolbe titled “Kidney Health Gourmet: Diet Guide and Kidney Friendly Recipes for People Not on Dialysis”. This is a smaller recipe book aimed at people with chronic kidney disease. It features information about kidney diet components, food lists and 58 recipes from Nina’s collection. To find out more wisit www.kidneyhealth1@aol.com or order from www.Amazon.com.

The largest collection of kidney-friendly recipes is the DaVita.com recipe collection featuring over 600 recipes for chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Start by trying some of the recipes, then rate and review to share your experience with others. You can even save the ones you like by clicking on the heart next to “save recipe” when you are logged into your free myDaVita account.

Additional Kidney Diet Resources

Visit DaVita.com and explore these diet and nutrition resources:

DaVita Food Analyzer

DaVita Dining Out Guides

Today’s Kidney Diet Cookbooks

DaVita Kidney-Friendly Recipes

Diet and Nutrition Articles                                                      

Diet and Nutrition Videos

Kidney Smart® Virtual Classes

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician and dietitian regarding your specific diagnosis, treatment, diet and health questions.

Sara Colman, RDN, CDCES

Sara Colman, RDN, CDCES

Sara is a renal dietitian with over 30 years experience working with people with diabetes and kidney disease. She is co-author of the popular kidney cookbook "Cooking for David: A Culinary Dialysis Cookbook". Sara is the Manager of Kidney Care Nutrition for DaVita. She analyzes recipes and creates content, resources and tools for the kidney community. In her spare time Sara loves to spend time with her young grandson, including fun times together in her kitchen.