People who have kidney disease usually need to follow a restricted diet to help control their blood chemical and fluid levels. This can make it feel difficult to find tasty everyday meals and recipes for you and your family. This book helps to get the balance right between enjoying your food and making the necessary changes to your diet.
This user-friendly recipe book was written following requests from our kidney patients for more practical advice (including easy recipes and meal ideas) about the food they could eat. A competition was held asking patients to send in their own favourite recipes, meal ideas and tips for fluid control. Where necessary the recipes were adapted by renal (kidney) dietitians, to ensure they are suitable in terms of salt, potassium, phosphate and fluid content.
The book contains recipes to suit African, Caribbean and Asian tastes as well as some British favourites. The wide range of recipes gives you the opportunity to try a familiar dish and perhaps something new.
Most of the recipes are quick and easy to prepare with ingredients that are readily available and not too expensive. Suitable serving suggestions are given for most of the recipes. There is a practical information section which includes snack and meal ideas, hints and tips for eating out and ideas on how to create tasty dishes without salt.
Patients tell us that the hardest part of their renal diet is the limited amount of fluid they can have each day. We have included a section of patients’ own practical hints and tips on how they manage their fluid intake. Some of their tips may work for you!
We hope you find this book, which has been written ‘for patients by patients’, a useful guide and that you enjoy both creating and eating these tasty dishes.
Acknowledgement: The ISRNM would like to express sincere thanks to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust for sharing their kidney-friendly recipes.