Confused About Diet for Stage 3 or 4 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

@spiritualgangster, I have a transplanted kidney (and liver), I don't have much information to add from my kidney failure experience since it was sudden. My nutritional needs were closely monitored during my dialysis treatment at Mayo before my transplant. I think that @cehunt57, and @kanaazpereira have provided you with some good information to get you pointed in the right direction.

In my experience, my mind goes 'blank' when my provider gives me any new medical information. I need to have someone to go to my appointment with me to be my ears. Who could you ask to go with you to learn about your nutritional needs and dietary changes?

Am in stage 3 CKD and living with an atrophied left kidney and a 37 % functioning right kidney and am on a renal vegetarian "sorta" diabetic diet. It's been an adventure creating kidney-friendly, diabetic-friendly meatless meals that are tasty and filling but the adventure has improved my kidney function from 28 % to 37 % within nine months. All the info I have says either to avoid whole grains or limit them, which I can't do 100% and stay on a reasonably low carb diabetic diet. What a challenge, eh?

@kamama94 Goodness! I thought I had a challenge with an IBS/kidney diet! Congrats on your success!

Thanks. But an IBS diet is a real challenge, too - many kidney-friendly veggies to avoid? I really don't miss meat but sure as heck do miss tomatoes and beans. Not enough to fudge and eat them but enough that could justify feeling sorry for myself if I had time, LOL.

Just FYI for everyone struggling with a renal diet, as soon as I'm allowed I'd like to share a couple of excellent nutrient-information websites. For now, I can say I've discovered dozens of low-potassium, low-phosphorus food items and several good combinations of them. I'm willing to share those as well but with the caveat that anyone trying them absolutely must clear doing so with his or her medical care providers whether a primary care doctor or a nephrologist or other specialist and/or a renal dietitian. One of my favorites is tortilla pizza which calls for a "strict smidgen" of tomato paste, a little diced onion, a spoonful of pimientos, a (VERY) few slices of canned, no-sodium mushrooms,and non-dairy mozarella-flavored shreds; preheat oven to 350, smear an eensy bit of tomato paste on a flour tortilla, sprinkle with onion and pimiento, arrange mushroom slices then sprinkle "cheese" & bake about 6 minutes or until tortilla edges start to turn golden. 504.6 mg K (24 % DV for renal patients, lower than regular DV) 222.5 mg P (22 % DV for renal patients, lower than regular DV) Yummy! If you like this, feel free to share it. I made it up but you can experiment with your own ingredients.

Forgot to say I sprinkle a pinch of oregano on the pizza before adding veggies, etc. Sorry about the omission.

I also sprinkle a pinch of oregano on the tortilla before adding veggies

I made this today and it tasted pretty good. If anyone wishes to check nutrient values or prepare this, I'd love your feedback.
Vegan Noodle Casserole
Prepare 1 C chicken flavor protein strips in the microwave according to package directions, set aside.
Boil 1-2 C egg free noodles, depending on type (I also do this in the microwave,) drain.
Micro-sauté ¼ C chopped onion, ¼ C chopped bell pepper, 1 small minced garlic clove in sm amt olive oil or non-dairy butter-flavor spread, add pinch of rosemary and sprinkle with dried parsley, mix into noodles.
Stir 1/8 C or less flour into 1 C unsweetened almond milk and simmer until thickened (I use the microwave for this also; even though it doesn’t thicken right away it will after it sits in the fridge.)
Stir “sauce” into noodle mixture, cover and refrigerate to re-heat later.
Whole batch= 303.7 mg K (16 % recommended renal value, not regular DV) 298 mg P (30 % renal value, not regular DV)
½ batch 151.8 mg K (8 %) 149 mg P (15 %)

Hello...I’m new to the group. Didn’t realize I was in trouble until I found myself in trouble...the minute the lights “went on”, I started researching and stopped a lot of bad kidney habits! My labs had a slight improvement just after a few weeks of being renal smarter. It was probably what I quit eating more than what I’m eating now. I just finished a two hour nutrition “course” but it contradicts a lot of the info on the internet...DaVita. The only issue I have with labs are creatinine and flow... Now, I’m unsure of my food..I’m afraid to eat. One says I can’t have dairy, and one says I can have dairy.....HELP...

Hi, sissieann. The info on the site you mentioned I also have found not to be accurate. There are two very good websites I do trust, though. One is Self which lists the nutrients in a lot of foods, including potassium, sodium and phosphorus on their nutrition data page and another is my food data (no spaces) with a search tool. As a new member I'm not supposed to post links or URLs but Rosemarya might be able to post them again if you don't find them in this thread.