Have you ever opened the cupboards and wondered “What’s for dinner?â€. If you’re like me, and many others, this has probably happened before. But how do you stock a kidney-friendly pantry so that you always have nutritious and delicious foods available to help with your kidney disease?
Well look no further. This post has you covered.
Having a stocked pantry can help make mealtime easier and you won’t have to wonder what you’re going to cook.
Here are my go-to items to keep in your kidney-friendly pantry and take the stress out of mealtime.
Proteins
Probably one of the most debated subjects with kidney nutrition. And often something that we always focus our meals on. But when you have kidney disease, this should only be about one quarter of your plate.
Some great choices to stock your kidney-friendly pantry with are:
- Low sodium canned tuna or salmon
- Unsalted nuts or seeds (choose low potassium if needed)
- Nut butters
- No added salt canned beans like chickpeas or lentils
These items are great for quick weeknight meals. But also check out my new cookbook for some easy recipes.
Grains and Starches
These can go a long way to add extra fibre in your diet. If you’re looking for some great grains to include and some meal examples, check out my previous post here.
Again, limit to a quarter of your plate.
Remember to choose whole grains that fit in your kidney-friendly pantry like:
- Barley
- Brown rice
- Buckwheat
- Bulgur
- Couscous
- Oatmeal
- Wild rice
Cans and Jars
Canned and jarred items can be a pantry staple. But focus on kidney-friendly items that are low in sodium. And in an instant we can have canned or jarred sauces, soups, vegetables, and fruits. Here are some staples:
- Applesauce
- Beans or legumes (no added salt)
- Carrots
- Corn
- Fruit cocktail
- Green beans
- Low sodium canned chicken or tuna
- Mandarin oranges (canned in water)
- Nut butter
- Peas
- Peaches
- Pears
- Soup
- Tomatoes or tomato sauce
Herbs and Spices
Aim to include small amounts of your favourite herbs and spices, this can help save space as well. I love going to the Bulk Barn to pick up sample size amounts to use. Store them in airtight containers or mason jars for best results.
To make it kidney-friendly look for seasonings with no added salt. But remember too much salt can cause our kidneys to work harder and lead to progression of our kidney disease.
Some of the most common choices for kidney-friendly pantry herbs and spices include:
- Basil
- Bay leaves
- Ground chilies (cayenne, red chili flakes, mild ground chilies),
- Cinnamon
- Cumin
- Curry powder
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Spices and Condiments
Sauces and condiments can be quite high in sodium when we have kidney disease. Nutrient content claims on the label use claims about the food products about sodium. So choose foods that say “low in salt†or “no added saltâ€
- Low in sodium/salt (low sodium, low source of sodium) -> contains less than 140 mg per serving
- No added salt/sodium (without added sodium, no added salt, unsalted) -> contains no added salt or ingredients that contain sodium
The nutrition facts table can also tell us if a product has a little or a lot of sodium per serving. Aim for sauces with less than 5% sodium per serving. Remember to look on the food label for hidden sources of added phosphorus. And choose foods that have no added phosphorus in the ingredient list.
Some kidney-friendly pantry staples to include in your cupboards are:
- Canola oil
- Coconut aminos (great low sodium substitute for soy sauce)
- Balsamic vinegar
- BBQ sauce (low sodium)
- Garlic infused oil
- Olive oil
- Mustard
- Red wine vinegar
- White vinegar
Have You Started To Build Your Kidney-Friendly Pantry?
Next time you’re looking to stock up on some essentials use this as a guide to stock your kidney-friendly pantry.
Do you need some support with planning nutritious and delicious meals? Well, Emily offers personalized meal planning and grocery shopping lists to help support you on your kidney nutrition journey and building your kidney-friendly pantry. Connect with Emily here.
Want to learn more about Emily? Learn more here.