23Aug 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Starfruit: The Forbidden Fruit for Individuals with CKD

Stephanie Legin RD, LDN Registered Dietitian Individuals living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) know the renal diet is one of the most complex diets to follow. Depending on your level of renal function and lab results, your diet can be extremely restrictive, having to avoid or limit portions of many foods and beverages. On occasion, however, your doctor and dietitian may give you some flexibility with food choices. There is one food that your renal care team will never grant you an exception to consume—that is the Starfruit (Carambola). What Is Starfruit? The Starfruit is a tropical fruit originating from Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia. A popular fruit in most East Asian countries, it is becoming increasingly popular and more available in grocery stores in North America. Tropical parts of…

16Aug 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Chicken & Fruit Pasta Salad

Kidney Disease, recipes

Not in the mood for a hot cooked meal on a hot summer day? Try this light and refreshing all in one pasta salad. For anyone watching their potassium intake, you’ve probably been advised to avoid oranges due to their high potassium content. This recipe calls for mandarin oranges, which happen to be lower in potassium than fresh navel oranges. A ¼ cup of canned mandarin oranges provides approximately 64mg of potassium as opposed to 119 mg in a ¼ cup of fresh oranges. So enjoy a little bit of (mandarin) orange in your diet with this cool, summertime recipe. Ingredients 2 cups (8oz) uncooked small shell pasta 3 cups cooked chicken, cubed 1 ½ cups celery, sliced 1 ½ cups seedless red grapes, halved 1 fresh apple, sliced…

10Aug 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Eggs—Cracking the code on protein in the renal diet

Kidney Disease, Renal Diet

by Marika Wamback, BSc. R.D. Registered Dietitian Over the years, eggs have been a very controversial food. The media has generated a lot of mixed messages based on different research causing everyone to question whether eggs are healthy or not. The center of the controversy is the high cholesterol content of the yolk. If you have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which increases your risk for heart disease (and vice versa), it begs the question, can you manage your CKD and still eat eggs? How many? How often? Can they be consumed at all? Below is the latest evidence to help you meet your protein needs, manage your CKD (at any stage), and protect your heart. Eggs and CKD Management Eggs are a nutritious protein option to help you manage your CKD. …

26Jul 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Phosphorus Additives in My Beverages?

Kidney Disease, Phosphorous

Phosphorus Additives in My Beverages? Stephanie Legin RD, LDNRegistered Dietitian In, “Get the Facts on Phosphorus Additives”, the negative impact on health of too much inorganic phosphorus in the diet was discussed. If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), there are numerous health risks associated with too much phosphorus consumption and prolonged elevated phosphorus levels. Phosphorus is a mineral you don’t often hear about. You may hear people discussing potassium, sodium, and calcium and a variety of other vitamins and minerals. As more and more research is being done to learn more about phosphorus’ effects on health—for people who have normally functioning kidneys and for those who do not—we will be hearing more and more about this elusive element. How Much Phosphorus Do You Need? If you have normally functioning…

24Jul 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Easy Summer Fruit Dip

recipes, Renal Diet

Want to add a little pizzazz to your summer fruit platter this year? Try this kidney friendly, fluffy dip that everyone will be sure to love. It’s as easy as 1…2! Easy Summer Fruit Dip Ingredients 1 (7oz) jar marshmallow cream1 (8oz) package low fat cream cheese Suggestion Mix it up and make different flavors of this tasty dip by whipping in ½ cup frozen raspberries or strawberries! Preparation Blend marshmallow cream and cream cheese together thoroughly, using an electric mixer. Serve with kidney friendly fruits for dipping like grapes, pineapple, apples, and strawberries. Makes 15 servings. Nutrition Information (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 90 kcal, 55mg sodium, 19mg potassium, 17mg phosphorus Recipe used with permission from ARA

16Jul 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Watermelon Summer Cooler

recipes

Beat the heat this summer with this cold, refreshing drink! Watermelon is lower in potassium than other melons like cantaloupe and honeydew, which makes it a better fruit choice for anyone with kidney disease. Watermelon is also packed with antioxidants like vitamin C and lycopene making this tasty drink a healthy choice for anyone this summer! Watermelon Summer Cooler Ingredients 1 cup crushed ice 1 cup seedless watermelon cubes 2 tsp. lime juice 1 Tbsp. sugar (or sugar substitute) Preparation Place all ingredient in a blender and blend for 30 seconds. Pour, serve and enjoy! Makes 2 servings. Nutrition Information (per serving): 52 kcal, 1mg sodium, 96mg potassium, 9mg phosphorus Recipe used with permission from ARA

12Jul 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

CKD Tips for Enjoying Summertime Food

Renal Diet

Marika Wamback, BSc. R.D., Registered Dietitian Summer is here and barbeque season has begun! Camping, trips to the cottage, barbeques, bonfires, and other fun events can be exciting and can be stressful at the same time if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Worrying about what to eat and how much to eat can take the fun out of enjoying food at a summer event. Planning ahead and coordinating event menus with friends and family may be helpful. Here are some simple tips, tricks and swaps to help you enjoy all kinds of wonderful summer food. Hamburgers: Hamburgers are the epitome of bbq season and they’re so easy to make and prepare. Make your own burgers using lean ground beef, herbs, and spices. This ensures you’re getting a good quality…

28Jun 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Get the Facts on Phosphorus Additives

Phosphorous

by Stephanie Legin RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian Get the Facts on Phosphorus Additives Food Additives What are they? They are substances that food manufacturers add to food during processing to give them flavor, preserve taste and texture, enhance color or appearance, and increase their length of freshness. They have revolutionized the food industry over the last several decades to accommodate the increasing demands of everyday life for fast, convenient, prepackaged/pre-prepared, shelf stable snacks, meals, and beverages. Food manufacturers have responded to that demand and we now have thousands of convenience, additive packed items from which to choose. What’s the Big Deal? The evolution and advancements in food technology has affected our lives greatly — but for better or worse health outcomes? It’s these “hidden” substances that most of us don’t…

27Jun 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

Lemon Herbed Pasta Salad

low potassium, low-salt, recipes, Renal Diet

Need a kidney friendly side dish for all your grilled food this summer? This colorful pasta salad goes great with whatever meat or poultry you are serving. Make this low sodium, lower potassium side dish the next time you grill out or go to the next picnic! Lemon Herbed Pasta Salad Ingredients 1 pound rotini or penne pasta, cooked according to package directions 1 medium red pepper, chopped 1 medium green pepper, chopped ¼ cup red onion, chopped 1 medium cucumber, chopped ½ cup red wine vinegar ¼ cup olive oil 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced 2 tsp. Italian seasoning 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. lemon zest ½ fresh lemon Instructions: Combine cooked pasta, peppers, red onion, and cucumber in a large bowl.In a small bowl, combine vinegar, oil,…

15Jun 2019 by KidneyChef No Comments

10 Summertime Treats and Beverages for CKD Patients

Renal Diet

10 Summertime Treats and Beverages for CKD Patients Marika Wamback, BSc. R.D.Registered Dietitian Summer is upon us! The management of CKD is constant regardless of the season; however, summer can have its unique challenges. Summertime food and treats are everywhere. This can present unique challenges to managing your fluid restrictions and renal diet needs. It can be overwhelming to keep wondering ‘what can I have?’ It can also be isolating when you feel like you can’t have something. When it’s super hot out, plain water is ok but sometimes you want something more refreshing and exciting. Try some of the ideas below to put some fun and variety in your summer and not sabotage managing your CKD. Remember, all of them count as fluids, so be sure to include…