Kidney-friendly meal plan and grocery list

Make healthy eating simple and delicious with this practical guide designed by expert dietitians to help you feel your best.

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October 28, 2024

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Julie Dominguez, MD

schedule

4 minutes

Sample meal plan

Meal

Foods

Breakfast

• 1⁄2 cup rolled oats cooked in 1 cup of water with a pinch of cinnamon

• Top with one tablespoon of peanut butter or 2 tablespoons of chopped nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or pecans.

• Don’t care for nuts? No problem! Add a hard-boiled egg on the side.

• 1⁄2 cup blueberries

Lunch

• Tuna sandwich

• 1⁄2 can (~ 2 ounces) low-sodium or no-salt-added canned tuna mixed with 1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise

• Lettuce or mixed greens

• 2 slices of whole grain bread

• 1 cup of chopped raw vegetables like carrot sticks, celery, bell peppers, or cucumbers

• 1 medium-sized apple

Dinner

• 3 ounces of baked chicken breast

• 1⁄2 cup cooked brown rice

• 1 cup of green beans or any other vegetable listed on the grocery list below

• 1⁄2 cup canned peaches with no sugar added

Snacks

Choose one to two of the following options per day

• 6 ounces of plain low-fat yogurt topped with 1⁄2 cup of sliced strawberries

• One medium-sized piece of fruit like apples or pears or 1 cup of fruit such as blueberries or cherries

• 1⁄4 cup unsalted nuts

• 2 tablespoons of hummus with 1⁄2 cup of raw vegetables (peppers, cucumbers, or carrots)

• 3 cups of low-sodium popcorn or 2 rice cakes

Grocery list

Produce

• Apples

• Blueberries

• Cherries

• Strawberries

• Frozen vegetables (green beans, mixed vegetables, cauliflower, or broccoli)

• Lettuce or mixed greens

• Baby carrots

• Celery

• Bell peppers

• Cucumbers

Protein

• Chicken breast

• Low-sodium canned tuna

• Eggs

• Hummus

• Unsalted nuts

• Peanut butter

Dairy

• Plain yogurt

Pantry

• Oatmeal

• Brown rice

• Low-sodium popcorn or rice cakes

• Whole grain bread

Want to make your own meal plan?

Building healthy, balanced meal can be the hardest part of the meal planning. Using the USDA's MyPlate method is a great way to make meal planning easier and ensure you are eating well! Ask your doctor or dietitian for tips if you are feeling stuck.

The MyPlate method: Using a 9" dinner plate.

Fill 1/2 of your plate with non-starchy vegetables and fruit.
Fill 1/4 of your plate with lean protein (e.g., poultry, eggs, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, etc.).
Fill 1/4 of your plate with starches and whole grains (e.g., potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, corn, etc.).

Key takeaways

Check out a sample meal plan and grocery list created by an Interwell Health dietitian.
The plan has kidney-friendly meal options and a list of exactly what to buy at the store.
Talk to your dietitian to make sure these foods work for your nutritional goals.

We are here to help

If you are have diabetes, your plate will look slightly different to reduce carbohydrates. Your dietitian can help you with meal planning with diabetes.

This serves only as a guide. Talk with your healthcare provider for more information based on your health needs.

Julie Dominguez, MD

Vice President, Medical Office, Interwell Health

Julie Dominguez, MD, is a nephrologist with extensive experience in private practice nephrology and medical education. At Interwell Health, she helps advance high-quality kidney care programs that support patients and clinicians. Dr. Dominguez earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, completed her Internal Medicine residency at Duke University, and completed her Nephrology fellowship at the University of California San Diego.