Like any other health condition, dealing with CKD early on gives us a better chance at stabilizing and even improving our kidney health….personally I don’t believe the diet has to be super-severe for 3a,….it really isn’t all that hard to eliminate a few critical foods/condiments, and to limit others….i haven’t totally given up simple grilled salmon, but eat far less—and keep mental track of the protein i eat in a day to avoid overloading the kidneys…as to dairy, i only eat yogurt sometimes, small amounts, as if it is a light topping for fruits…cheese is now a rare treat, tiny amount….replaced cereal milk with almond milk….treats can happen, but less often and much smaller. enjoy hydrating more ! I’m lucky —I like many kidney friendly veggies and fruits. Bottom line, it’s a decent start, one that most people can handle. Good luck one and all who post here.