All the things I can still eat / have in moderation.

This post details whats ok for a Stage 4 renal diet. My renal “specialist” simply said cut out salt and don’t eat too many bananas. I think she may be hoping I simply die from a heart attack and get off her books!

✅ Safe Basics – I CAN Eat These

🥦 Vegetables (Low in potassium, phosphate)
Limit to ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw per portion
Boil & drain high-potassium veg if unsure
Carrots
Green beans
Courgettes (zucchini)
Peppers (red/yellow)
Cabbage (white or savoy)
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Cucumber
Onions (white, red, spring)
Leeks
Turnip
Swede (small amounts)
Mushrooms (limit to ½ cup cooked)
Tinned sweetcorn (small amount)

🍎 Fruits (Low-potassium)
Aim for 2 portions per day max
Apples
Pears
Grapes
Pineapple (fresh/tinned in juice)
Blueberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Peaches (fresh or tinned in juice)
Plums
Watermelon (small portion)
Lemons/limes (great for flavour)

🥖 Carbs & Grains
White bread
White wraps/tortilla
White rice
Pasta (plain)
Couscous
Unsweetened puffed rice or cornflakes
Cream crackers
Rice cakes
Plain digestives (limit)
Crumpets
English muffins
Polenta
White flour (for home baking)
Low-sodium plain rice noodles

🍗 Proteins (Limit Quantity!)
Small portions, spaced through the day
Chicken breast
Turkey (plain, unprocessed)
Lean pork
Eggs (1 per day unless advised otherwise – egg whites are safer)
White fish (e.g. cod, haddock – check with dietitian if phosphorus becomes an issue)
Tofu (small portions)
Minced beef (low-fat)
Quorn (some versions OK – check labels)

🥛 Dairy (not yet restricted but will eventually be)
My dietitian may limit dairy based on phosphate levels. If unsure given my tummy, I should keep to small amounts.
Whole milk or plant-based milk (rice, almond – choose no-added-phosphate versions)
Unsalted butter
Soft cheese (like cream cheese, small portions)
Yoghurt (check phosphate content – some Greek yoghurts OK)

🧂 Herbs, Oils & Flavourings
Garlic-infused oil (garlic repeats on me)
Lemon juice
Vinegar (white, malt, balsamic – check potassium if flavoured)
Olive oil / rapeseed oil
Pepper (white or black)
Dried mixed herbs (e.g. thyme, oregano)
Paprika (small amount)
Ginger
Onion/garlic powder (not salt!)
Chilli flakes/oil (in moderation)
Fresh parsley or coriander

🍪 Treats & Snacks (Kidney-Safer Options)
Not healthy per se, but lower-risk
Plain crisps (small bags, <150mg sodium)
Rich Tea or Digestives (1–2 at a time)
Ice pops or Calippos (check potassium!)
Sorbet (fruit-free flavours preferred)
Jelly (like Hartley’s)
Plain scones
Homemade low-salt popcorn
Apple & blackcurrant squash (diluted)

🚫 Avoid or Limit Heavily
For reference (to spot on labels):

Category: Examples
High-potassium: Bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, dried fruit, avocado

High-phosphate: Cheese (especially hard), cola drinks, processed meats, wholegrain bread, chocolate

High-sodium: Stock cubes, canned soup, sauces, bacon, ham, instant noodles, ready meals

Sneaky offenders: Miso, soy sauce, brown bread, nuts, peanut butter, processed snacks