Food ideas

[Dan1234567]

I know everyone is different but could anyone at at Stage 3 share their meals and diet with me please breakfast lunch dinner and maybe some snacks ? I research but gets me no where most of the stuff on the internet we can’t eat and it says we can. I would just like some of the things y’all eat thoughout the day?

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador]

Hi Dan,

Welcome! In regard to your question, it is broad as everyone is different; best based on your labs.

In my case, I eat 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt with chia seeds every morning as recommended by my doctor. I may have a small iced coffee with Coffee mate fat free original creamer or an iced tea.

I may eat Cream of Wheat, Gluten Free Oatmeal or light wheat toast with Benechol Lite or hummus for breakfast. Egg whites with veggies are also good as you can make an omelet and even run out the door with it.

If you are allowed cheese, Swiss is the lowest in sodium.

I don't drink dark colas but will have water with lemon, Bubly, or ginger ale.

I am not a big lunch person but when I do, salads with onions, peppers, cucumbers and even a bit of artichoke. I have added quinoa to it as well. This can be eaten straight or in a wrap. I add oil and vinegar dressing to it.

I may snack on cucumbers, or peppers with hummus, apples; baked, raw etc. strawberries, blueberries or even pineapple.

I am allowed potato chips; WISE puts out an unsalted chip which unlike other brands has no salt, Quaker puts out a flat bar which is also low sodium and low fat.

Dinner can be broiled, baked, grilled chicken or fish with vegetables and salad. I roast cauliflower, onions, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash in the oven with onion, garlic powders and a bit of organic smoky paprika. I line the bottom of the cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray non stick spray on it. I also may drizzle olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing on on them and bake at 425. I also eat cabbage, broccoli and spaghetti squash. My veggies also can be pre- prepared as they are steamed in the microwave.

I also eat pasta with veggies and a low sodium sauce.

I have been plant based for several years. My doctor allows me to have beans.

If you google Davita.com, they have some good recipes give you all of the nutritional values; you can adapt your recipes to meet your needs. They also run a free 90 minute Smart Class which is well worth attending.

Here's a link:

davita.comdiet nutrition/articles/advice/diet-and-nutrition-goals-for-people-with-stage-3-chronic-kidney-disease

Another is via the American Kidney Fund:

kidneyfund.org/kidney-disea...

Just a thought. Have you spoken to a renal dietician ? Ask your doctor to refer you to one as they will take a look at your labs and give you food suggestions which are both nutritious and appetizing. They will also give you a list of low sodium,low phosphorous and low potassium products as well.

Initially, I did this and was given great suggestions and products which are low sodium.

Give it a shot! I am sure that other community members will also jump in and share what they eat as well.

Think of it as a healthier lifestyle rather than a diet.

It will all work out, I promise.

Please reach back and let me know how you are doing.

Bet

[Dan1234567 in reply to Bet117]

Thank you so much! So helpful you have gave some great ideas. For the most part I try and do well I just need to stay away from a few things. Thank you again! You have definitely gave me some good ideas. Thank you thank you!

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to Dan1234567]

Hi Dan,

No thanks ever needed! This will give you a start. In the meantime, see if you can meet with a renal dietician as he/ she will put together a more exact plan to meet your needs.

Stay positive and safe! I

It will all be good!

Bet

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI Dan,

Bet gave you some great ideas. My go to foods are egg whites and I eat them almost every day for lunch cooked and rolled up into a burritto of sorts with a low sodium and carb wrap. I often put cheese, Laughing Cow garlic and herb on the wrap and some low fat mozz to add some flavor. My favorite "meat" product is ground chicken and I add it to veggies and pasta instead of ground beef. Snacks are rice rollers, animal crackers and apples or pears. I eat a salad almost everynight either as the total dinner by adding stuff to it like cold pasta, cheese, egg or other veggies or as a side dish. I've gotten totally away from eating any red meat for years, and now I do not even eat fish, but you can have some fish. I grill, roast and blend veggies with homegrown herbs and spices for variety. I stay away totally from any processed foods now. I make my own sauce ( for husband, I do not eat tomotoes of any sort) breads, pasta ( sometimes, other wise I use organic pasta) and soups and I grow my own herbs and lettuce in season. Often, when I make something, I will make enough to freeze for another meal.

[Hidden]

When a patient has CKD a very specific meal plan designed for them should be developed by the patient and a Renal Dietitian. Specific amounts of protein, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and calcium, will be looked at on your previous lab tests. Based on your individual preferences it can be vegan, vegetarian, or include some animal protein from poultry and seafood.

I'm including a list of foods to avoid in each of the important groups. I hope this helps you work out what is okay for you to eat. You can look at the davita.com website to get recipes that you can use and make adjustments to match your wants and needs.

FOODS TO AVOID THAT ARE HIGH IN POTASSIUM

Milk, milkshakes, hot chocolate, eggnog, ice cream/sherbert/frozen yogurt, pudding, custard, molasses/sorghum, dried fruit, apricots, bananas, honeydew, orange and prune juice, kiwi, oranges, nectarines, nuts, seeds, whole grain/bran cereals, chewing tobacco/snuff, sports drinks, artichoke, avocado, fresh beets, Brussel Sprouts, dried beans and peas, greens and spinach, wax beans, okra, potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash, tomatoes, and tomato products

FOODS TO AVOID THAT ARE HIGH IN PHOSPHORUS

Milk, soymilk, eggnog, milkshakes, hot chocolate, pudding, yogurt, custard/flan, ice cream ice milk, sherbert, frozen yogurt, whole-grain bread/cereals, baking soda/powder, pancakes, waffles, muffins, cake, cornbread, avocado, biscuits beans & peas (except green/wax beans), corn tortilla, coconut, nuts, nut butter, seeds, dried fruit, dark-colored sodas, beer, chocolate, pizza, organ meats, sardines, mackerel.

FOODS TO AVOID THAT ARE HIGH IN SODIUM

Lunch meats, tacos, sausage, sauerkraut, salted nuts, salt, and seasoned salt, salted nuts, cheese, cottage cheese, condiments, hot dogs, bacon, pickled foods, canned foods, canned soup and salted crackers, pizza, frozen dinners, sauces, and dressings, chips, and pretzels.

Your protein will be limited based on your lab numbers and your GFR average.

Your calcium is best explained and controlled by reading the attached article below that will help you understand it better and how it affects your diet.

medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/c...

[barbara55109 in reply to Hidden]

Sadly many of us don't have access to a renal dietician. I'm currently in the middle of an appeal with my health plan and am losing. The only renal dieticians are out of network. Most work for dialysis and transplant clinics. Sadly those of us that are pre dialysis lose out when a renal dietician may help us delay dialysis. I live in Minnesota, home of four transplant centers and hundreds of hospitals and thousands of doctors. The only board certified renal dietitian I found is at Mayo and does research. There just doesn't seem to be an emphasis or culture that includes using renal dietitians here in Minnesota.

[Hidden in reply to barbara55109]

Sadly what you are saying is true but it doesn't have to be the final answer. One of the reasons I provided a long list of foods go avoid and the web address to DaVita is that you and anyone in your situation can use that information to work out a meal plan to help you get started. Also please use eatright.org and in the upper right of their homepage click on the red box and enter your zip code and you'll hopefully find someone in your area that, along with the food lists I provided, may be able to assist.

Best of luck.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to barbara55109]

Hi Barbara,

What I would do is call your nephrologist, or local hospital and ask for the name and contact number of the dietician who sees patients when they are hospitalized. Make contact and ask if you can meet with them. If your doctor is associated with that hospital, they are pretty accommodating.

Reach back and let us know what you come up with.

Good thoughts,

Bet

[barbara55109 in reply to Bet117]

There are regular dieticians in network, but no renal dieticians. I just got my tier two appeal denied. They used the double whammy that it isn't clinically indicated for someone with stage 4 CKD to see a renal dietician and it isn't allowed to for out of network coverage. I'd cry, but I'm low on water today.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to barbara55109]

Hang tight, Barbara.

It amazes me as to the insensitivity to the needs of the patient.

Just a thought, call the nurse administrator at your hospital and tell her your plight and see if she has a suggestion.

If you have a Davita in driving distance from your home, give them a call and take their free 90 minute Smart Class- excellent! Davita has a renal dietician on the premises as well as social workers who may have an idea around the insurance or the name of a nutritionist who is affordable and will see you. When I went to the Smart Class, I popped into meet the dietician who gave me a few suggestions.

It is worth a shot!

Know that you are never alone in this community as one of us will always reach back to you.

Get back to me, I care.

Bet

[barbara55109 in reply to Bet117]

We have dozens of hospitals and dialysis clinics in Minnesota. All renal dieticians are out of network and my insurance plan is NOT small. I think it just isn't seen as necessary in Minnesota. I have a lot of co occurring conditions and have four diets that are all opposite. CKD says low salt and potassium and I LIVE because of salt and potassium since I'm dehydrated all the time. I have a high output ileostomy that is prone to blockages. So I drink sugar free sports drinks daily. I can't eat high fiber - fruits and veggies give me blockages and send me to ER. I'm also fat and diabetic. My sugars were in control until I got CKD and they took me off my oral meds. They are making me see a plain dietician and a IBD dietician. I told them I don't have IBD anymore. I lost of colon 28 years ago! Luckily I'm so sick I hit my out of pocket max back in July so it is only my time wasted going to them.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to barbara55109]

Yikes Barbara,

Go see the dieticians. You have as tricky a diet as I do. I have a blood condition that requires I am on blood thinners, I have psoriatic arthritis, I am fat and have diabetes and stage 4 CKD with high potassium. Supposedly I cannot eat just about anything..... I am not kidding. But working with a dietician was a help. I do eat lettuce, just not spinach or kale. I do eat chicken, but no red meat. I do eat sweets, but in very low quantities and I limit fruit. Things like apples and pears are good. I cannot eat legumes, tomatoes or squash or potatoes, but most other veggies are good. I try to never eat processed foods of any kind and learned to make my own bread which does not raise my glucose as much as store bought. I also use a low carb wrap that is also low in sodium. There are ways around this all. Tricky and frustrating at times.

Question.... if you are diabetic, why did they take you off your oral meds? That seems counter intuitive to me.

Can you process foods so that you do not have blockages? Do you like eggs? They are my go to food.

Curious if you know how high your potassium is... sports drinks have large quantities in it and that can be dangerous for some patients with CKD.

[barbara55109 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Metformin filters through the kidneys and worsens CKD. They started me on insulin, but it takes awhile for everything to get figured out - dosage wise. I'm always dehydrated because of my ileostomy. My poo and much of my liquid go straight into my bag. I've even had to take prescription potassium drinks. Dr. agrees I need to keep up my salt and potassium. They don't know cause of CKD, it's not diabetes.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to barbara55109]

Metformin is the old standard. There are many new drugs out there that are safe for CKD and diabetes, both even below GFR 30. Is your A1c getting stable? Insulin is also something that is mind boggling to me. It puts on weight, and more weight, the more you need insulin. That was one reason I never wanted to get on it. But I did, and I gained, but I lost and take less. I am on Januvia also.

Well bright side, you can enjoy many things that are high in salt and potassium that most CKD folks can't. Just trying to be positive here.

[barbara55109 in reply to Bassetmommer]

They took me off junuvia too. Just on insulin now and am gaining weight. But if I want to try for a transplant I have to lose!

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to barbara55109]

So, this is another myth that is part of the world of fat bias. There are places in the states that do transplants on people of size. It is just the medical....and actually the insurance go to for getting out of a procedure. Its like the falacy that all fat people are diabetic. It MAY be a factor, but not every fat person has CKD or diabetes or high blood pressure.

I am going to be honest with you but it sounds like your doctor is not your best helper. You need a team that supports you and helps you get the care you need. Are you locked into using the providers you have?

[Hidden in reply to Bassetmommer]

Several meds for T2D are contraindicated once your GFR gets close to 30, and below. One that is okay down to single digits is glipizide but not everyone can take it.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thanks, Bassetmommer for sharing your story and for your incredible advice.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to barbara55109]

Hi Barbara,

I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this stress and strain, especially during a pandemic.

I fully agree with Bassetmommer, see the dietician, bring your labs and share your story with the person. It is their job to come up with food suggestions which will be " friendly and healthy" for all of your present health conditions. ( the CKD, diabetes, address the colonic needs since your ileostomy)

I would stress one set of food choices which meets all of your needs, not two or three. You tell them what YOU need. Enough is enough!

I wouldn't say that this is unique to Minnesota as this community has folks from all over the US and the UK who either have poor physicians and or limited insurance coverage to meet their health needs. It is far from easy and very distressing.

As far as the gatorade, watch quantities. I was told 2 swigs of Gatorade Zero to keep my sodium electrolyte normal.

I also can empathize with your situation as a result of the ileostomy as my very close childhood friend had the procedure at age 28. I know when the food is turning into fluid. I know that his GI has medication that he takes to help.

I know that it is frustrating but don't give up hope; speak to your doctor and see if this can be pushed and again, one set of food choices which best addresses all conditions.

Please reach back and let us know what the outcome is.

You are among friends!

Bet

[Allank]

don't forget drinking lots of water. Oats helped my being hungry all the time. Enjoy your eating

[Allank]

for snacks I eat different nuts