Healthy Kidney-Friendly Snack Ideas
This post may contain editorial samples and/or affiliate links. We earn a commission on your sales.
It’s important to always look for healthy snack options when you are looking for a snack. This is especially true when you have a serious chronic illness. This post is all about a list of kidney friendly snack ideas. We don’t really stop to think about the function of our kidneys besides eliminating liquid waste until we start to experience symptoms of kidney problems. Our kidneys actually are responsible for a lot of things in our bodies and it’s important that we take care of them.
Some people that are diagnosed with kidney disease also have problems with their blood pressure. Did you know that the kidneys regulate your blood pressure? Shocking isn’t it? One of the first diet changes, when you are diagnosed with kidney disease, is to be put on the Dash diet.
The dash diet is a low sodium diet that helps lower your blood pressure and also helps your kidneys as well. The diet helps with meals, but not really snacking. I am personally on the Dash diet for my own kidney disease and it does help with my kidneys and blood pressure. It doesn’t really discuss snacking though. I don’t know about you but I’m a huge snacker!
If you are living with kidney disease, it is important to think of everything about your diet. This is not just the food you eat, but what you are drinking as well. We all know that it is important to drink enough water during the day. Did you know there are actually a list of 10 best drinks for kidney disease?
Snacking is actually good for you mid-day if you do it in a healthy way. Healthy kidney friendly snack ideas are important though. It’s all about what your snack options are. Junk food is a great idea and tastes great but is not exactly healthy. Some food can actually be harmful to your kidneys if you have kidney disease.
When you are living with kidney disease, it is important to pay attention to everything you eat and drink. Sign up for my newsletter to receive a free kidney-friendly snacks list.
What are some kidney friendly snack ideas?
- ½ Bagel (plain, blueberry, egg or raisin) with jelly, light cream cheese, or light margarine
- Graham crackers
- Vanilla wafers
- Unsalted crackers, plain or topped with light cream cheese or a small amount of jelly
- Unsalted crackers topped with tuna salad, chicken salad, or egg salad (use light mayo/veggies)
- Fresh veggies (such as cauliflower, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, or celery) with a low-fat dip
- Fresh fruit (such as apples, pears, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, grapes, pineapple, or plums)
- Low-fat cottage cheese with fresh fruit or no sugar added on pkg
- Sorbet, fruit ice, or sugar-free popsicles
- Air-popped, unsalted popcorn (season with garlic powder, parmesan cheese, or Mrs. Dash; avoid butter)
- Angel food cake with strawberries
- Homemade pita chips (baked pita shells in the oven); season with parmesan cheese or Mrs. Dash
- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or blackberries with light cool whip
- Unsalted pretzels, seasoned with Mrs. Dash or garlic powder if desired
- Homemade snack mix (corn cereal squares, rice cereal squares, bite-sized unsalted pretzels, ¼ cup dried apple chips or pineapple pieces and marshmallows)
- Plain Jell-O made with fruit
- Canned fruit (no sugar added) or unsweetened applesauce
- Lettuce salad (iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, peppers, and cauliflower; use lemon juice, vinegar, or a light vinaigrette for dressing)
- Melba toast and light cream cheese
- Tortilla with tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad (use light mayo)
- French bread slices made with garlic powder and olive oil, baked in the oven, add a dash of parmesan cheese
- Fig Newton’s
- Rice cakes
- Animal crackers
- Cinnamon toast (sugar substitute and cinnamon on lightly buttered toast)
- Hard-boiled eggs (no salt)
- Granola bar
- Teddy Grahams (avoid chocolate)
- English muffins
- Popcorn balls
- <10g protein bar
- Hummus with veggies or pita
- Low-fat yogurt with < g sugar
- 1 cheese stick (Colby jack or mozzarella)
There are a lot of my favorite snack options on this list so I’m a happy girl. I need to eat small frequent meals because of my GERD. So having so many options is amazing!
Which of these kidney friendly snack ideas is your favorite? I love to snack while I’m working so I love to keep things like the teddy grahams, and fresh fruit beside me.
Follow Me On Social Media:
