Good foods for kidney diets–Italian seasonings pack in flavor

I is for…Italian Seasonings
(This post is part of an ongoing series on selected ‘kidney-friendly’ foods and some of the good things included in the kidney diet.)

Learning how to season and prepare kidney-friendly foods is a challenge for anyone prescribed a diet low in sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Adding flavors can make all the difference is preparing a meal with taste versus a tasteless meal.

Oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram, sage and rosemary—blend these dried herbs together and you have Italian seasoning. For kidney diets, Italian seasoning blend is a fantastic way to add salt-free flavor. One teaspoon contains 0 mg sodium, 35 mg potassium and 4 mg phosphorus.

Here are some kidney-friendly suggestions for spicing up your meals with Italian seasoning.

• Salad dressing–made with olive oil, vinegar, garlic and Italian seasoning; or sprinkle Italian seasonings directly over your salad and add lemon flavored olive oil.

• Pasta—Season cooked pasta with olive oil, garlic, pepper and Italian seasoning. Top with a small amount of Parmesan cheese.

• Breads—Knead Italian seasonings into homemade or store bought pizza or bread dough to make flavor-added bread, rolls or bread sticks; or make a spread with butter, olive oil, minced garlic and Italian seasonings and spread over a halved baguette before toasting in the oven.

• Meat dishes—Marinate chicken or pork chops in a mixture of Italian seasoning, oil, fruit juice and vinegar. Sprinkle Italian seasonings over fish or steaks before cooking.

• Vegetables—Italian seasonings complement summer squash—especially zucchini dishes; add it to eggplant or carrots during cooking.

If you enjoy gardening, consider planting Italian herbs to use fresh, then dry them to make your own Italian seasoning blend to use year round.

Check out one of my DaVita.com recipes that call for Italian seasoning:
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and serve over Italian Meatballs and your favorite pasta.