Cool and Easy Summer Time Eating on a Kidney Diet

Summer heat, humidity + kitchen heat = discomfort making meals instead of enjoyment. You can enjoy a kidney-friendly summer time meal for a dialysis or chronic kidney disease diet plan. Follow these few suggestions and try some quick, easy no cook recipes from DaVita’s collection of over 700 kidney diet recipes.

1. Lighten up! Try a refreshing complete meal salad with added protein like tuna, chicken or egg salad.
2. Keep the oven off. If you must cook, use the grill for meats or veggies or buy already prepared low-sodium chicken, turkey or beef.
3. Make it fruity. Fruit is refreshing in the summer heat. Combine several low potassium fruits such as pineapple, berries, grapes, apples or peaches or add watermelon or strawberries to mixed salad greens with a light homemade viniagrette dressing. Keep your portions in mind because potassium can add up with too many fruits and vegetables.
4. Select a sandwich. Easy with no cooking required you can combine a variety of ingredients for a sandwich meal. Serve lean meat or turkey, egg salad or tofu salad in a pita, wrap, bagel, sandwich bread or tortilla. Add lettuce, cucumber, onion and a thin slice ot tomato. Spread with mayonnaise, mustard, red pepper sauce or a spoonful of hummus.
5. Recycle. Pull leftovers from the fridge or freezer or search the cupboard for easy foods easy to microwave to make a quick, effortless meal.
6. Cool it down. Try a cool summer soup with no cooking required or have cottage cheese with chilled  low potassium fruit.

Try some of these delicious recipes from DaVita.com and enjoy a quick, easy, refreshing meal that keeps sodium, potassium and phosphorus in line with your kidney-friendly diet.

Chicken Fruit Salad

Cool Cucumber Soup

Crunchy Chicken Wraps

Fresh Vegetable Marinade

Grilled Chicken Salad

Southwest Tuna Salad

Tortilla Rollups

Tuna Ceviche

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.