Kidney Kitchen food facts, tips and advice
Kidney Kitchen recipes have been very carefully analysed and approved by the British Dietetic Association's Kidney Dietitian Specialist Group (KDSG). Each recipe includes Food Facts and Nutritional Info, which look at the overall content of every ingredient per serving.
- You will also find additional advice from our chefs and dietitians, including how to adjust the amount of protein in each recipe or adapt a dish for a special diet.
- Most recipes will include suggestions for a healthier option as well as cheaper options and useful storage tips.
If your dietitian or doctor has talked to you about making changes to your diet, use the simple Food Facts information on each recipe to check that it meets your individual needs. Always check with your kidney dietitian before modifying your diet.
For every recipe, the Food Facts provide information on the calories and per-serving amount of
- phosphate
- potassium
- protein
- carbohydrate
- fat
- fibre
- (natural) salt
- calories
What we mean when we say…
These recipes are suitable if you have been advised to eat less potassium. They may contain ingredients higher in potassium than you expect to see in a Kidney Kitchen recipe, but are only included in small amounts and across several servings, so are safe to enjoy in the portion sizes suggested.
These recipes are suitable if you have been advised to eat less phosphate. They may contain ingredients higher in phosphate than you expect to see in a Kidney Kitchen recipe, but are only included in small amounts and across several servings, so are safe to enjoy in the portion sizes suggested.
If you have been advised to take a phosphate binder, you will find advice on when these need to be taken.
Low protein
These recipes are suitable if you have been advised to eat less protein than usual, sometimes needed when your kidney function is low, but you have not yet started dialysis, or are being worked up for a transplant.
High protein
These dishes are suitable if you have been advised to eat more protein, which may be needed if you are having dialysis. Eating more protein helps compensate for protein losses during dialysis, prevents malnutrition, improves overall strength and energy levels and enhances treatment outcomes.
Source of protein
These recipes have a moderate amount of protein (20 - 29g per portion). Ensure you check with your kidney dietitian before modifying your protein intake.
We do not add salt to any Kidney Kitchen recipes, but many food sources and ingredients contain salt. Our low-salt recipes contain less than 0.3g of salt per 100g. We adapt every recipe to be as low in salt as possible and our Kidney Kitchen chefs introduce other ingredients to enhance flavours. However, a few recipes may contain more salt than others and so fall slightly outside our agreed ‘low-salt’ parameters.
We DO NOT advise replacing salt with salt replacement products as these contain potassium chloride, which some people with kidney disease need to avoid.
If you have diabetes, the carbohydrate content of Kidney Kitchen recipes has been provided for those who have been trained in insulin adjustment.
The amount of carbohydrate per serving is an estimate based on the quantities and serving sizes specified. Read the healthier options for tips and suggestions to further reduce the fat, sugar, and salt in some recipes.
There is strong evidence that eating a fibre-rich diet lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. Choosing foods with fibre also makes us feel fuller, while a diet rich in fibre can help digestion and prevent constipation.
For people with CKD, dietary fibre helps manage blood sugar, reduces inflammation and lowers cholesterol, improving cardiovascular health. It also promotes gut health, helps in toxin removal and may slow CKD progression by reducing uremic toxins, supporting overall kidney function and wellbeing. The recommended daily intake of fibre for an adult is 30 grams.
Our calorie information is calculated based on the quantities and serving size specified.
You may wish to choose higher calorie-content meals if you have been advised by your kidney dietitian to try to gain weight. If you have been advised to lose some weight, opt for lower calorie-content meal options.
Kidney Kitchen recipe categories at a glance
In the Kidney Kitchen we want to make it as simple as possible for you to enjoy a wide variety of delicious and healthy food. You'll see the following labels on our recipes.
Our Everyday dish recipes are healthy, balanced meals which are safe to eat regularly. They follow healthy eating guidelines and are lower in fat and sugar and salt. This makes them good for the whole family to enjoy but particularly for those with diabetes, heart disease or who are trying to control their weight.
These recipes are not necessarily low in potassium or phosphate, so don’t forget to check the Food Facts if you have been advised to modify your intake of these.
No one should have to miss out on the odd indulgence! These are recipes we suggest you save for a special occasion or enjoy as a treat in moderation.
While they have been adapted to be more suitable for people with kidney disease, these recipes are higher in fat, sugar or salt content and so we suggest they are eaten no more than once per week.
If you eat a vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free diet, many of our Kidney Kitchen recipes have been developed with you in mind. Also, many more Kidney Kitchen recipes are easy to adapt and you will find tips on where ingredient swaps can be made on every recipe.