Kidney Diet Tips

Love is in the Air: Kidney-Friendly Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a great time to show your friends and family a little extra love. We often show love and kindness to one another through food or yummy sweet treats. This Valentine’s Day keep your valentine healthy and on-track while also showing your love and appreciation. Here’s a couple of safe and kidney-friendly Valentine’s Day ideas.

Try New Flavors for Valentine’s Day

Valentines sweet treats that include chocolate, nuts or peanut butter can pack a hefty potassium and phosphorus punch. Try a vanilla-flavored treat such as sugar cookies or vanilla wafers for a lower phosphorus content. Also, substituting chocolate or peanut butter candy with hard candy or gummy candy ensures a lower potassium and phosphorus content. Simple changes like these may help your body healthier in the long run.

Try one of these non-chocolate flavored treats:

Snickerdoodles

Strawberry Mousse

Vanilla Lasagna

Vanilla Wafers with Sweet Cream Cheese Spread

Check out sugar-free options

It seems that every year brings new types of Valentine’s sweet treats. The good news is there are more sugar-free options than ever before. If you have diabetes, choosing a sugar-free option might be easier on your blood sugar. Check the sugar-free section of the candy isle to see if any of your favorite candies are available in a sugar-free variety. A note of caution: sugar-free items often have sugar alcohol sweeteners which could cause diarrhea or bloating, especially of you eat too much.

Try one of these lower-sugar Valentine’s treats:

Low Sugar Party Punch

Low Sugar Carrot Cake

Sugarless Heart Cookies

Mix it up

Mix it up this year with a savory treat. Savory snacks might have less potassium, phosphorus and sugar depending on how they’re made. After the Christmas holidays, a savory rather than sweet snack might be welcomed. Check out the savory snacks below for an alternate to the usual sweet Valentine’s treat.

Savory Valentine’s treats: 

Addictive Pretzels

Snack Mix

Valentine’s Breakfast Eggs

For more recipes read “Eat What You Love: 10 Kidney-Friendly Valentine Treats“.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Haley Justus, RD, LDN

Haley Justus, RD, LDN

Haley Justus is a registered dietitian who resides in the mountains of western North Carolina. She has been a dietitian for 3 years and enjoys helping her dialysis patients make small changes to enjoy life-long benefits of health. In her free time, Haley enjoys hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and two dogs.