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Kidney Health 

Eating Right for 

National Kidney Disease 

Education Program 

Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) 

hat you eat and drink can help slow down chronic kidney disease. Some foods 

are better for your kidneys than others. Cooking and preparing your food 

from scratch can help you eat healthier. 

These tips will help you eat right as you manage your CKD. The First Steps to Eating Right 

(pages 1 and 2) are important for all people with CKD. The Next Steps to Eating Right 

(page 3) may become important as your kidneys slow down. 

Work with your dietitian to choose the right foods for you. 

THE FIRST STEPS TO EATING RIGHT 

STEP 1 

Choose and prepare foods with less salt and sodium. 

Why? To help control your blood pressure. Your diet should 

contain less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium each day. 

STEP 2 

Eat the right amount and the right types of protein. 

Why? To help protect your kidneys. 

STEP 3 

Choose foods that are healthy for your heart. 

Why? To help keep fat from building up in your blood vessels, 

heart, and kidneys. 
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THE FIRST STEPS TO EATING RIGHT 

Eating Right for Kidney Health 

STEP 1 Choose and prepare foods with less salt and sodium. 

■ Buy fresh food more often. Sodium (a part of salt) is added to many packaged foods. 

■ Use spices, herbs, and sodium-free seasonings in place of salt. 

■ Check the Nutrition Facts label on food packages for sodium. A Daily Value of 20% 

or more means the food is high in sodium. 

■ Try lower-sodium versions of frozen dinners and other convenience foods. 

■ Rinse canned vegetables, beans, meats, and fish with water before eating. 

Look for Food Labels that Say 

l Sodium free l Salt free l Very low sodium l Low sodium l Reduced or less sodium 

l Light in sodium l No salt added l Unsalted l Lightly salted 

STEP 2 Eat the right amount and right types of protein. 

■ Eat small portions of protein foods. 

■ Protein is found in foods from plants and animals. Talk to your dietitian about how 

to choose the right combination for you. 

Animal-protein Foods 

l Chicken l Fish l Meat l Eggs l Dairy 

Plant-protein Foods 

l Beans l Nuts l Grains 

STEP 3 Choose foods that are healthy for your heart. 

■ Grill, broil, bake, roast, or stir-fry foods, instead of deep frying. 

■ Cook with nonstick cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil instead of butter. 

■ Trim fat from meat and remove skin from poultry before eating. 

Heart-healthy Foods 

l Lean cuts of meat, like loin or round l Poultry without the skin l Fish l Beans 

l Vegetables l Fruits l Low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese
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THE NEXT STEPS TO EATING RIGHT 

Eating Right for Kidney Health 

As your kidneys slow down, you may need to eat foods that are lower in phosphorus 

and potassium. Your health care provider will use lab tests to watch your levels. 

STEP 4 Choose foods with less phosphorus. 

Why? To help protect your bones and blood vessels. 

■Many packaged foods have added phosphorus. Look for phosphorus—or for words 

with “PHOS”—on ingredient labels. 

■ Deli meats and some fresh meat and poultry can have added phosphorus. Ask the 

butcher to help you pick fresh meats without added phosphorus. 

Foods Lower in Phosphorus 

Fresh fruits and vegetables l Breads, pasta, rice 

Rice milk (not enriched) Corn and rice cereals 

Light-colored sodas/pop 

Foods Higher in Phosphorus 

l l Meat, poultry, fish l Bran cereals and oatmeal 

l l l Dairy foods l Beans, lentils, nuts l Colas 

l

STEP 5 Choose foods that have the right amount of potassium. 

Why? To help your nerves and muscles work the right way. 

■ Salt substitutes can be very high in potassium. Read the ingredient label. Check with 

your provider about using salt substitutes. 

■Drain canned fruits and vegetables before eating. 

Foods Lower in Potassium 

Apples, peaches Carrots, green beans 

White bread and pasta White rice 

Rice milk (not enriched) 

Cooked rice and wheat cereals, grits 

Foods Higher in Potassium 

l l l Oranges, bananas l Potatoes, tomatoes 

l l l Brown and wild rice l Bran cereals 

l l Dairy foods l Whole wheat bread and pasta 

l l Beans and nuts
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NOTES
 

Eating Right for Kidney Health 

U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services 

National Institutes of Health 

National Kidney Disease 

Education Program 

For more information, visit www.nkdep.nih.gov or call 1-866-4 KIDNEY (1-866-454-3639). 

The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) encourages people to get tested for kidney disease and educates those with kidney disease 

and their providers about treatments that can help delay or prevent kidney failure. NKDEP is a program of the National Institutes of Health. 

NIH Publication No. 11-7405 • Revised September 2011