My diet has changed…

So my diet is in flux. I am on a campaign to eat only my portion. My share. Biblically, it was suggested in a group I attend that if one is in habitual sin, one might not be in the faith. I thought of my food addiction and took the statement to heart. I also have some goals in life and figure the more obedient I am to God, the more He might allow some of those things to happen. Due to my kidney disease, moderation might lead to a longer lifespan.

With CKD, I avoid taking in large quantities of certain foods. To keep from overdoing it on potassium and phosphorus, I keep my intake low, of the following foods that were often staples in my diet:

OrangesOrange juiceBananasColaRoot beerMilk (as a beverage)PotatoesTomatoesRaisinsRed meatPrepared foods

But what I can do, as I enjoy those foods, is modify how I take them in. So, to that end, I might eat a mini-orange now and then, I put an ounce of orange juice in my drinks frequently, I’ll eat a few dried banana chips in trail mix now and then, I drink occasional sodas that are light in color. I rarely drink milk as a beverage but put it in cereal and tea. And I only eat half of my occasional baked potato at a meal and I eat dried cranberries instead of raisins.

I love to go out and have a nice burger now and then, but French fries are out (potatoes) and red meat is to be eaten sparingly. When I feel like having a nice juicy burger, most restaurants now offer a vegetarian option. I like a good bean burger, but I love some of the ‘impossible’ burgers available.

So I often avoid the red meat, enjoy the ‘burger’, remove the extra tomatoes (I usually eat one slice only), and for the fries substitution, I can often get steamed broccoli, tempura green beans, or opt for onion rings, which are always on the menu. Sometimes I have a salad instead of fries, or soup. Once, I got mac n cheese, but that was probably high in sodium. The portion was tiny, so it was likely okay.

Another way I can help preserve my kidneys is to moderate my intake of liquids, so my usual Crystal Light and natural iced tea are appearing slightly less often, and I still drink hot tea, but I’ve read varying reports on how much to drink with any stage of kidney disease. I am at stage 4, and one source said that 33-50 ounces per day was good. 

I drink at least 64 ounces of fluid per day, so I hope I’m not pushing it too hard. For those on dialysis, 32 ounces is all your body is able to process.

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“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink

“At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.”

— Daniel 1:12, 15