Can I Eat Cranberries On A Renal Diet?

Canned vs. Fresh Cranberries In A Renal Diet

A renal diet is usually restricted from several different nutrients, specifically protein, sodium and potassium.  It depends which stage of kidney disease you have, but when you are thinking of how to manage a renal diet, cranberries can be considered a low potassium food.  Just as you might suspect, it's important to balance the foods that you eat all around and not just focus on single foods for your diet.

You have several choices in cranberries, and they vary in nutritional value.  But the good thing to know is that they all are good for a renal diet.

Nutritional Information For Cranberries

Plain raw cranberries are the best, but you might think they are a little tart.  Add some splenda or sugar, depending on your condition, and sweeten them up a little.

1 cup whole cranberries, raw – 44 calories, 0.4 grams of Protein, 11.6 grams of Carbohydrate, 2 mg Sodium, 81 mg Potassium

1/3 cup dried, sweetened cranberries – 102 calories, 0 grams Protein, 27.2 grams of Carbohydrate, 1 mg Sodium, 13 mg Potassium

1/2 in thick slice cranberry sauce, jellied, canned – 86 calories, 0.1 grams Protein, 22.2 grams of Carbohydrate, 17 mg Sodium, 15 mg Potassium

Other Options For A Renal Diet

You really can eat lots of cranberries, especially the fresh ones, on a renal diet.  Around the holidays, you can even find them in the produce section of the grocery store.  They may seem a little tart, so if you want to add some sugar or sugar substitute to them, feel free!  But what if you don't like cranberries?  You can eat other low potassium fruits that are “berries” – blueberries, blackberries and strawberries.  You can grab those in the same section of the grocery store and with a little rinse off – you are ready to pop them in your mouth and munch down.

But, if you don't like berries, and you need something fruity for your renal diet, pick out some of the fresh apples in the fruit / produce section.  Knowing that year round there are plenty of varieties of apples, from green to red and tart to sweet, anything for your tastebuds!  Eat them fresh, they are low potassium fruits and can satisfy a sweet tooth.

Click here to learn about our renal diet meal plans to get more recipes and more options for your renal diet.

Also published on Medium.