One of the most difficult aspects of renal failure is having to change my diet. I generally used to eat "healthy". Renal diet is not very healthy. I have to avoid or limit a lot, foods rich in potassium and phosphates. Potassium rich foods are all the fruits and veggies, and phosphate rich foods are the proteins - eggs, certain fish, certain meats, legumes, nuts, dairy.
Dialysis helps with the removal of potassium, so I am still eating lots of fruits, though have cut down on the veggies. Avocado is a no-no
Veggies need to be soaked in water for ages, and then cooked. Kind of takes all the nutrients out of it, so I am very selective with my veggie allowance.
Dialysis is a bit of a wash-out with phosphates, so I have to take phosphate binders and really limit the amount of foods, without cutting down on protein amounts, which are minimal anyway. Not easy! So have to find some sort of balance between the protein rich and not too much phosphate.
I have lost quite a bit of weight. Not a bad thing at all!
except that I am rather short on clothes now!
Summer will be ok, cause I can eat lots salads. Most of my 'bulk' is taken up by breads. Here I have to balance between not to much of the 'health' breads, and more of the 'white' breads - wholewheat is a no-no too, limited to couple times a week.
My phosphate levels are higher than they should be, so I am trying all sorts of ways to get them down. I have blood tests every month, so only know whether I have been successful or not after a month.
I need to find nutrient rich foods that can be made into a nice meal without carrying too much phosphate or potassium.
I used to add all sorts of stuff to my rice and make nice rice dishes (especially with nuts and dried apricots) now those are no-no, so am adding bits of veggies and small amounts of chicken/meat to make a filling meal.
The dietitian told me I could eat non-dairy type sweets. Gosh! I was so thrilled, and for a month gorged myself on chewy fruit sweets. Was most delicious!
Then I discovered that (of course) there was a limit to that too! heh most disappointing it was cause I also didn't gain any wieght from that sugar overload!
So.. anyone coming up with recipes, sandwich combos or meal plans with the above criteria is most welcome! I have my daughter planning - she has always been into 'health food' and is a vegetarian. She is quite stumped and is researching more!
When I was recently in hospital, I had the 'kidney patient' meals. They were fabulous!! and gave me a good indication on quantities, which I was quite hopless with since my diet list gives me that but not in combo-meals.
