Holiday Eating With Non Dialysis Kidney Disease

Your Non Dialysis Kidney Disease Is Important To Think About

Now that the holidays are almost upon us, it's important as a person with kidney disease to think about how you can enjoy the holidays – from the meals to the parties to the shopping – and not end up hurting your non dialysis kidney disease condition.

Both Thanksgiving and Christmas can be a challenge for people with kidney disease whether it's non-dialysis or dialysis. Many of the foods are high in protein, salt, and potassium. You can still make healthy choices though, as long as you do a little thinking ahead.

Plan Ahead When You Have A Busy Day

The most important thing you can do, is to think about your day and make sure you have a plan for how you eat that day. If you know you're to have a big lunch, you may want to eat a small breakfast before you go. It's important not to skip breakfast so you're not overly hungry at the meal time. That will keep you from over doing it.

Either take with you or ensure that your host will have some raw vegetables with low calorie dip. You can eat plenty of carrots and cucumbers, either raw or with some light dip but not too much. The dip can have a lot of sodium in it. If you're not sure just take a small baggie with some carrots and celery and that way you're all set.

At The Table

When you're choosing meat from the bird, make sure that you're eating the white meat without the skin. Dark meat, without the skin, is the second choice. And only a small amount of either. Just get a little taste, 3 ounces worth which is the size of a deck of cards, and that will keep you from over doing it with the protein and sodium related to the bird.

It's probably best overall to skip the potatoes. I love sweet potatoes and I think they're delicious on Thanksgiving or Christmas, and if you want to take a small nibble of those that would be fine. But the plain white potatoes are going to be high in potassium, therefore a little too much for your meal.

Another idea is to bring along a fruit and vegetable plate with some low potassium vegetables that you can eat. That way you feel for sure that you'll have something available should you need it. And you will be helping the hostess.

If you're watching your fluid intake, that doesn't stop with the holidays. Make sure you're only drinking the amount that you're allowed, and don't overdo it with the sodium which will make you more thirsty.

Finally, if you're going to eat desserts, choose a half piece of pie. You'll be tempted to eat multiple desserts, so get away from the table as soon as you've had the one that you committed to. And don't take home any leftovers.

Ask For Help

It can be really hard to stick to your non dialysis diet meal plan on the holiday season. Ask your family to help you, by making sure that they have foods that you can eat at the meals that they plan. And being understanding by not overproducing and offering you seconds and thirds of items.

If you have nice enough weather to go outside for a short walk after eating, that can help your body cope with the extras that you consumed. Exercise helps your body utilize those extra calories and maybe not put all of them on as extra weight.

I hope you have a good holiday season and that you can find a way to follow your non dialysis diet meal plan to keep your body healthy and your kidney disease controlled.

Also published on Medium.