Snacking

[htpi1543]

Hello everyone

I am at stage 4 CKD. I get hungry around midnight. Before CKD, I use to snack on nuts. Can any one share his/ her experience about midnight snacks ? I would highly appreciate it

Thanks

SAM

[Hidden]

At midnight I'm sleeping but I still don't snack. If you are looking for a late-night snack be aware that you may run into a weight issue at some point. My suggestion would be to use the davita.com website and under their Menu bar look for their recipes and you'll find snack ideas. You'll have the option to select ones that are okay for dialysis patients, those not on dialysis and with or without diabetes. I hope that helps

[htpi1543 in reply to Hidden]

Mr Kidney

Thank you for the info

I will look at Davita website

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI Htpi,

I do not eat anything after 8pm most nights. The only snack I have is on Saturday movie night and it is popcorn.

The body revs up when we eat. Eating something before sleep can disrupt sleep as well. It also will put on weight since there is not enough energy to counter snacks before bed.

I highly recommend you try drinking water and warm water (not tea) instead (if you are allowed) to satiate the need for food.

[htpi1543 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you Bassetmomer for putting me in the right direction

[Hidden in reply to Bassetmommer]

Weird. My dietitian told me basically the opposite. As long as the snack fits into your daily intake, it doesn't matter when you eat it.

[htpi1543 in reply to Hidden]

Hi zencat55

I need to gain some weight. My BMI is 22.8, not diabetic.

I lost 20 lbs in 1 year.

If you can suggest some kidney friendly snacks, I would appreciate it

Thanks

God bless

Sam

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to htpi1543]

I too lost 20+ lbs (went from womens size16 to a size 8) in a year before being diagnosed with CKD4. Now, 6 yrs later, I had to get on PD (dialysis) and I have gained all that weight back. There is sugar in the dialysate, so there's that, plus I had to stop working. I must admit I don't exercise as much as I should (the Transplant Coordinator says to keep up with exercising) -- especially in Winter.

Nuts have protein, but are also high in Phosphorus and some potassium too (almonds, dry roasted, is what I looked up).

Since you are in CKD4, I would try a small snack of celery, a cup of sugar-free applesauce or unsalted popcorn. Ask your doctor or renal dietician.

I understand. I am a late night snacker too. But now that I am on dialysis, I don't have the same food restrictions I did when I was in CKD4.

I used to wake up in the night if I didnt have something on my stomach and got hungry. It is a real balancing act and everybody is different.

Good luck!

[htpi1543 in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Hi Mhusband27

if understand correctly, you managed ckd 4 for 6 years before going on Dialysis. I would be happy if I can delay dialysis for 3 years. How did you do it.

thanks

sam

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Hi Zencat,

Really, so if you eat 1000 calories at night and go to bed and you only burn ( most people burn about 0.42 cals per pound of body weight) 500 calories sleeping and you do this every night... you don't think you will gain weight. But if you eat 1000 calories in the morning and either work out and burn 1500 cal off, you don't think you will lose weight? This is the reason why the American diet is so wrong. We eat small breakfasts, medium lunches and huge dinners.

[Hidden in reply to Bassetmommer]

Not quite so simple. It's those calories included in an entire day - not just the ones you eat at night. If you eat 2000 calories at 10 am they are not going to be entirely burned off before you go to sleep.

From healthline-

Physiologically, calories don't count for more at night. You won't gain weight by merely eating later if you eat within your daily calorie needs. Still, studies show that nighttime eaters typically make poorer food choices and eat more calories, which can lead to weight gain.Oct 2, 2018

It makes sense that you would make poor food choices if you are tired and hungry.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

not what I said... I said if you eat 1000 calories right before bed..... that is what was being asked about... a snack before bed. That to me indicated that there were other calories eaten during the day. If you eat only 1000 calories all day long and eat at midnight every day then yes, that is your daily allotment and you will burn through the calories during the next day. But that was not the question. It was about eating a snack before bed. For example, a cup of peanuts is 828 calories. And cup is easy to plow through if you are not paying attention and let's say watching TV. Keep doing that on top of your normal daily intake and you WILL gain weight.

[Allank in reply to Bassetmommer]

thanks for the drinking warm water tip and htpi1543 for raising the issue of snacks. I was told also to eat nuts , but I need to eat them with dried fruit - dates , figs etc . I don't have a problem with potassium, sodium or phophorus. I need to bring down my triglycerides. I tend to take a packet of Petit Bear biscuits and eat and eat. Sometimes I ask myself maybe , another sandwich would be better. Any advice ?

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Allank]

I tend to suck on hard candy so I am not so tempted to "eat and eat and eat" snacky foods. I can easily go overboard with nuts and "finger foods".

I was told by my Nephrologist when I was in CKD4 that cottage cheese would be a good snack, and i put sugarfree canned fruits on it -- peaches or pears. i dont eat much, but i use a small spoon and eat slow.

[htpi1543 in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

I tend to avoid dairy products, but now I will explore cottage cheese ingredients. I liked cottage cheese before ckd.

thanks for the input

God bless

sam

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to htpi1543]

I thought the same thing when my Neph told me that (since he warned about dairy -- most b/c of high phosphorus), but he said Cottage Cheese ok. Breakstone makes a variety with lower sodium and low fat.

I have a small food guide (cost $1.00 on the AAKP.org website. I bought a few and carry one with me and have some at home. They even have Fast Foods listed with breakdown of contents.)

Cottage Cheese: 4 oz.; 382 sodium; 109 Pot; 167 Phos; 11.7 protein; 4.5 fat; 1.8 Sat. fat; 4 carbs; 103 calories.

I highly recommend getting a few of those small food calculators. Was worth the $1!

UPDATE: it looks as thought AAKP.org no longer sells the booklet, but I found a downloadable file at: aakp.org/?s=Nutrition+counter. I hope the link works. It was the first item listed in the search results.

[Allank in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Thank you for the tips. Yesterday I solved my problem - I need to eat nuts with dried fruit - I have been eating dates and figs. I don't have a problem with potassium but it is still wise not to over do it. I saw dried unsweetened pineapple which is low in potassium - " so I am going nuts over dried pineapple "

[lowraind]

Animal crackers, graham crackers and vanilla wafers are my go-to for snacks. Sometimes, I am not able to sleep and have a few of any of those three, read a bit and then I am able to sleep. Also, I have read that total calorie count is what is important in weight control.

[curiousmind2019]

I recently discovered from kidney-friendly products. Check out Vidafuel. They have low potassium low phosphorus chips

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to curiousmind2019]

Vidafuel products are quite good, renal diet and budget friendly. They are a small business with a good reputation. Our clinic has given out their products to home patients a few times at Christmas. I've also purchased a few products. You can't go wrong. Blessings

[htpi1543 in reply to KidneyCoach]

Finally I got vidafuel chips from Amazon and it seems to be good. very little salt and it says kidney friendly. I like it.

thanks to all of you for good inputs

SAM

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Htpi,

Some of the things I snack on are based on my needs which include low potassium and low sugar. So popcorn is my go to. I do not have an issue with sodium either so I can add some salt for flavor. I eat apples and in season cherries. I eat red or green peppers, celery and cucumbers with my home made dip.

Again it depends on your diet restrictions. Why did you cut out nuts? Do you have a phosphorous issue? If you want to put on weight, and phosphorous is not an issue then peanut butter, cheese (watch the salt) and crackers are good.

[Sammi_n_Munk]

Hello there, htpi1543! I can relate to your love of snacking, believe me! Not sure what other health issues, if any, you may have, but along with my CKD (stage 5), I am also a diabetic, so I had gone from snacking on all of my favourite, yet unhealthy, snacks like potato chips, cheese puffs, chocolate, etc., to nuts, because I had always been advised that nuts, seeds and such, are a healthier option, especially with regard to diabetes and cholesterol issues, as they contain a good amount of protein and healthier fats. However, once CKD took centre stage, I was forced, much as, I’m sure, most people here have had to do, to reconsider any snacks that I consume. From the bit of research I’ve done, and this was only because I found myself feeling ill most of the time when I was eating nuts, they are, apparently, very high in potassium, as is popcorn (another healthy snack I had to give up). It has been my experience while on my CKD journey, that almost everything that I was taught to believe were healthy food choices, is now not so much the case. But then everyone is a little different from the next. And I imagine the stage of CKD that one is in, may also be a factor. The best advice here would be to consult with a renal dietician, to find out what is best for you, and also, remember to mention to them any other health issues you’re dealing with, if any. I hope you can find a snack that is both healthy and satisfying. I’m certain there are lower potassium items that are safe enough for CKD sufferers. I hear berries are one. Olives also, cucumbers, red peppers. I believe DaVita.com is a very helpful website that offers much kidney-friendly advice on food and beverage items for those following a renal diet. Good luck to you! Please keep us posted on your findings! God bless. 😊👍

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Sammi_n_Munk]

My food calculator lists Popcorn, 2.6 cups, as having only 63 mg of Potassium. That is very low! I don't know if you were snacking on flavored, cheese-covered popcorn, but popcorn seems to be a good snack and is pretty low in all the CKD forbidden elements...even phosphorus (62 mg).

[Sammi_n_Munk in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Hello there, Mhusband27! I’m really not sure anymore, how to find an accurate listing for nutritional values and such. I would love it if this information is true, but the reason why I even researched it to begin with, was because I began to feel ill almost every time I indulged in it. It quite possibly could’ve been something else going on at those times that I just may not have considered, or could’ve even been the amount I consumed (I do tend to overindulge on these type of snacks, at times. My bad). I’m not sure, really, but I’ve noticed in doing some online research, many times, I get contradicting responses. This is why I’m a little hesitant (afraid), to try it again. I just remember feeling as though I was dying. I actually passed out a couple of times, so I didn’t try it again. Your information could be right, as I say, at that time (this was a few years ago), it may have been something else that caused those issues. When I mentioned it to some doctors at the hospital (I was there for something different, not my kidney issues), they couldn’t figure out what would’ve caused that. I suppose I could’ve just attributed it to poor kidney function and I just followed the websites that listed popcorn, or just corn period, as high in potassium. I appreciate the info, Thank you so much. I know I’ll try it again someday (when I’m feeling a little bolder. Lol!) All the best to you, and God bless. 😊👍

[Sammi_n_Munk in reply to Sammi_n_Munk]

Hello again, everyone! I just did another check on the potassium count for popcorn (plain, air-popped). It listed it as 274 mg of potassium for only a half cup (100 grams). But then another site, it may have been livestrong, listed it around 64 mg for 1 1/2 cups, I believe. Not sure if there is a way to get an accurate listing. Oh well. I’ve been told before that these nutritional values are often times, just an estimation and never really exact, but 200 is still much higher than somewhere in the 60s. That’s a pretty loose estimation! Lol! 👍

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Sammi_n_Munk]

I guess it is the same old story: "don't drink coffee", then "coffee is ok." We've suffered from these mixed messages about just about every food (red meat? no meat?). It is nauseating, right?

I used to be a Pet Food Nutrition Specialist for a few high-end pet food companies. I was actually trained that Corn -- all Corn -- is unnecessary in the diets of dogs, cats AND humans. It is not easily digested and animals' digestive systems are not designed to digest it. Have you seen corn on the cob in the toilet the day after eating it?

I think that moderation is the key in eating, exercise, and a lot of things in life.

I was taken to the ER for electrolyte imbalance and dehydration recently. I thought I was going to die too. I had been throwing up on a regular basis plus dialysizing. My potassium & sodium were terribly depleted. I had an Afib incident as a result. I was admitted to the hospital for 3 days until my electrolytes normalized.

I wish there was a dependable place to find the information we need to make good nutrition decisions.

Thanks for your input.

[Sammi_n_Munk in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Gosh. It sounds like you’ve been through the ringer lately. I’m sorry to hear that. I’m glad to hear that you’re doing better now. You’re right about the corn too! Lol! I had to give myself some time to stop laughing after I read your post before I could respond! That was hilarious! And so true! Can you believe that I went on a gout website (a couple of years ago now, I don’t remember which site it was) that actually contradicted itself?! It listed both “not enough activity, and too much activity” as causes for a gout flare up, as well as coffee and tea as a cause for a flare up, then stated that coffee can actually help lower uric acid. Which way do you turn? Oh well. I guess it is as you say, “Everything in moderation.” It took almost my entire life to realize that, and then put the words into action, but now, it is the motto I do my best to live by. Thank you for your information, and the laughs. I needed that. I’m probably never going to be able to look at corn on the cob the same way again! Lol! God bless. 😊👍

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Sammi_n_Munk]

Thanks! Laughter is the best medicine! At least we haven't lost our sense of humor like our kidney function!

[Sammi_n_Munk in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

So true! If we allow our illnesses to squash our sense of humour, we’ve basically relinquished our authority to them, haven’t we? We can’t do that. 😊👍

[Hidden]

This is from Davita and it has lots of options. davita.com/diet-nutrition/a...

[Canchita]

Nuts were my go-to snack as we'll but also high in potassium and salt. Everything I like is being eliminated. Soon the only thing I'll be able to eat Is my toenails.

[Jayhawker in reply to Canchita]

And iceberg lettuce!