"Dialysis Diet Tips"

TIP OF THE WEEK:

Tip #1 - Cooking Meat. Cooking meat such as chicken, roast beef, pork, or turkey in the crock pot on low with no added water can produce a very tender, moist, and tasty item. Herbs, spices, green pepper or onion can also be added. Cook extra and freeze in small snack size ziplock bags for you to pull out of the freezer when you need cooked meat for your meal.

Best meats: turkey breast, roasting hens, rump roast, pork loin.

Tip #2 - Precooked Meat. When ground beef is on sale, buy extra. Cook, drain, then freeze it in quart freezer bags to have available when you don't feel like cooking. You could also freeze it in reusable whip topping containers. Using precooked meat can really be an energy saver when you just don't feel like cooking. This works well with extra chicken too. Just debone the chicken before you put it in the freezer.

Tip #3 - "Frozen Grapes. When grapes are on sale, buy extra. Wash them and freeze on cookie sheets. Place frozen grapes in ziplock bags and store in freezer. Enjoy these cool, sweet treats when you are hot and thirsty instead of drinking liquids.

Tip #7 - Lemon or Lime Wedges. To help quench your thirst, try putting lemon or lime in your water. You can use fresh wedges and squeeze the juice in your water or use bottled concentrated juice. Remember, a little goes a long way. You can also suck on the fresh lemon or lime wedges when thirsty.

Tip #8 - Fluid Control. For better fluid control, try using less processed foods. When foods are pre-packaged, the manufacturer uses sodium based chemicals to help preserve the food. This is considered "hidden sodium" which causes thirst just as the salt you shake on your food does. Try to buy more fresh foods and cook from "scratch".

Tip #12 - Precooked Meat. Try sucking on hard candy when thirsty to help quench or control your thirst. Lemon drops, peppermint, or fruit flavored candies can really do the trick.

Tip #13 - Phosphorus Binders. Phosphate binders such as PhosLo, Renagel, or TUMS are designed to work on the food in your stomach. When taking "binders", eat a little of your meal, take your binders, then finish the rest of your meal. This will give you maximum efficiency from your medication, thus bringing your phosphorus level down and keeping it under control.

Tip #14- Phosphorus Levels. To help control your phosphorus levels, remember to take your phosphate binders (Phoslo, Renagel, or TUMS) with protein snacks or highly processed foods.

Tip #15 - Chocolate. Several holidays, such as Valentine's, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas, throughout the year include treats made of chocolate. During these times, remember moderation in consumption of these treats due to the phosphorus and potassium content of chocolate. It is best to do without, but a little can go a long way.

Tip #16 - Hot Beverages. When the weather is cooler outside, be careful of hot chocolate and/or cappachino. Both products are made with milk which is a dairy product and can elevate your phosphorus and potassium levels. A better hot beverage alternative would be hot herbal tea such as cinnamon apple or spicy peach.

Tip #17 - Phosphorus Binders. To help control your phosphorus, carry a supply of binders with you in a small pocket pill box or key chain to take when eating away from home. Binders work best when they are mixed with the food in your stomach. Eat your protein source, take your binders, then finish the rest of your meal.