We say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why is that?
After a good night’s rest, your body has gone hours without fuel. Therefore, breakfast is the meal that replenishes your energy stores, provides essential nutrients, and wakes up your metabolism. It also gives your brain the boost it needs to focus and tackle the day ahead.
Although skipping breakfast might sound like a shortcut to consuming fewer calories, and maybe even losing weight, research shows that the opposite is often true. People who eat breakfast have been found less likely to snack on high-calorie, high-fat, and sugary foods later in the day. This could result in less calories being consumed, especially from foods that lack nutritional value. Here are some kidney friendly breakfast recipes to start your day off right.
Kidney friendly breakfast recipes
When choosing kidney-friendly breakfast foods, it’s important to consider their sodium, protein, potassium, and phosphorus content.
Fruit – Having fruit in the morning is a quick way to boost your vitamin and mineral intake without much preparation. For CKD, it is often recommended to consume low potassium fruits such as apples, pears, blueberries, watermelon or clementines. Bananas, while being a common breakfast food, are quite high in potassium and should be eaten in limited amounts.
Bread – Whole grain bread varieties contain a higher fibre content which helps regulate bowel movements and can help to get rid of potassium in our body. However, not all whole grains are equal. Lower-potassium and lower-phosphorus options include barley, buckwheat, bulgur, and wild rice. Higher-potassium and higher-phosphorus grains include amaranth, quinoa, oats, and millet.
Eggs – Eggs are high in protein and phosphorus, so people with CKD should monitor their intake. Reducing egg consumption may be helpful, but they don’t need to be completely eliminated from the diet.
Cereals – Choose cereals that contain a few grams of fibre, and lower levels of phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. Aim for cereals with under: 150 mg sodium, 100 mg potassium, and 50 mg phosphorus per serving.
Coffee – A single cup of black coffee doesn’t have a high enough potassium content to be of concern. However, drinking several cups of coffee per day can raise your potassium levels. Adding milk and creamers into your coffee can further raise the potassium content of the beverage, making almond milk and other dairy substitutes a better choice.
Tips for planning a kidney friendly breakfast
Here are some tips when planning your kidney friendly breakfast recipes
- Get your veggies in
- Vegetables in the morning can be a great source of fibre, helping you feel satiated until lunch time
- Pack your favourite CKD friendly veggies into your egg or tofu scrambles or breakfast sandwiches
- E.g., An eggplant breakfast sandwich is a great choice since eggplants are low in potassium and are also a source of fibre. You can pack other vegetables like onions and peppers and add sauces like tahini for more flavour as well.
- Another way to get veggies in is to pre-cut celery and carrot sticks to take with you on the go
- Be mindful of potassium
- Fruits and vegetables commonly consumed as a part of breakfast can be high in potassium (ex. Bananas, tomatoes, avocados) so try to replace them with low potassium alternatives such as apples and pears
- Phosphate additives
- When reading nutrition labels for products like cereal, look for ingredients containing “phos,” as these are additives that increase phosphorus content (e.g., hexametaphosphate, monocalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate)
- Protein intake
- ~¼ plate should be protein
- Consuming more than the recommended amount can cause your kidneys to be overworked and can lead to damage
- If making beans on toast, or any other dish containing legumes, soak and boil the legumes to reduce the high potassium and phosphorus content
- Select fresh or frozen fruits
- Dried fruit often have more potassium than their fresh or frozen counterparts
- Choose fresh or frozen fruit instead of juice for a fibre source and hydration
Kidney friendly breakfast recipe ideas
Here are some of our favourite breakfast ideas:
- Chia seed pudding
- Apple and peanut butter smoothie
- Breakfast wrap with eggs and vegetables
- Tofu vegetable scramble
Tofu Vegetable scramble
Ingredients
- 1 Onion, small, chopped
- 1 Bell pepper, sliced
- 8 Mushrooms, washed, sliced
- 1 block Firm tofu
- 1 TBSP Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 1 cup Spinach
Instructions
- In a medium skillet on medium heat, sautee onions for 2-3 minutes. Add water to the pan if onions begin to stick.
- Add mushrooms and bell pepper to pan, continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until soft.
- Crumble tofu into pan with vegetables and add spices. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add spinach to pan and warm.
- Serve with your favourite whole grain bread.
Notes
Make tomorrows kidney friendly breakfast recipe
There are plenty of ways to enjoy familiar breakfast favourites like eggs, cereal, coffee, and fruit, while supporting your kidney health. Paying attention to portion sizes and learning how to adapt recipes to your health needs and taste preferences are key. Since everyone’s needs can differ depending on their stage of CKD and lab results, consider the tips listed above as general guidance. For personalized advice, contact a registered dietitian from Kidney Nutrition who can help create a plan tailored just for you!
This article was written by Kimia Oshagi, Nutrition Student Volunteer.
This article was reviewed by Emily Campbell, RD CDE MScFN.
