Kidney Nutrition Nuggets

Most people come to a kidney dietitian expecting a list of foods to avoid and a meal plan built around whatever is left.

But that's not what truly transforms their kidney health.

In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, I'm taking you behind the scenes of what it's actually like to work with a renal dietitian.

We're talking about understanding your labs, identifying the factors influencing your kidney health, building balanced meals without rigid food rules, and completely rethinking what a kidney-friendly diet can look like. Because the most powerful changes to your kidney diet might not be what you take away. They might be what you finally give yourself permission to add.

Are you tired of only knowing which foods you should avoid with CKD?

It seems like most of the foods we always thought were healthy for us end up on the kidney diet's "avoid" list because of their potassium or phosphorus content. But what if avoiding these foods means missing out on important nutrients that actually support your health? 

In this episode, I'm breaking down five commonly restricted foods, why many people with CKD may not need to avoid them, and how they can support your your kidney health.

 If you don't feel confident about how potassium rich foods can be safely added to your kidney diet, join me for the on-demand masterclass, The Undercover Element, to learn what really influences your potassium levels, why potassium bioavailability matters, and how to confidently make room for more of the foods that can protect your kidney health.

👉 Enroll in The Undercover Element here!

Three Mistakes You’re Making When Trying to Eat Plant-Based for Kidney Health

You’ve heard that eating more plant-based foods can support your kidney health, so you’re ready to give it a try. But what does “plant-based” actually mean when you have CKD?

Do you need to become vegan? Should you be cutting back on protein? And how do you know whether the plant-based foods you’re choosing are actually supporting your kidneys?

In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, I’m breaking down three common mistakes I see people make when trying to eat more plant-based for kidney health and, more importantly, helping you understand how to approach plant-based eating without turning it into another restrictive kidney diet.

If you’re ready to start putting this into practice, download my FREE Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Proteins for CKD here. It will help you take what you learned in this episode and begin making realistic plant-forward changes to the way you already eat.

Connect with me on Instagram:@Kidney_Nutrition_Coach or Facebook: The Kidney Nutrition Coach.

Frozen foods are not off-limits with CKD. In fact, having the right convenience foods available may be one of the best ways to make your kidney-friendly diet easier to maintain long term.

In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, I’m breaking down the misconceptions around frozen and processed foods and sharing why I actually encourage my clients to build convenience into their kidney nutrition strategy.

We’ll talk about how frozen foods can add variety, reduce reliance on takeout, save time and energy, and give you a much-needed Plan B for the days when cooking from scratch simply isn’t happening.

I’ll also walk you through what to consider when choosing a frozen meal and how to balance it into a more complete meal that supports your individual kidney health goals. Because the best kidney nutrition strategy isn’t the one that only works when life goes perfectly. It’s the one that still works when life doesn’t.

🎧 Plus, learn more about my Kidney-Friendly Freezer Playbook, with 55+ hand-selected frozen meals and my strategy for learning how to choose your own. You can purchase your copy here for just $17.

Find me on IG @Kidney_Nutrition_Coach and let me know what your favorite part of the episode is! If you found this helpful please write a review and hit that subscribe button to continue to get my latest podcast episodes.

Lab day can be nerve-racking when managing chronic kidney disease. When so much weight is placed on your eGFR, creatinine, potassium, and other kidney labs, it’s natural to want to do everything you can to get the “best” results possible.

In this episode, I’m breaking down five things to consider before and during your next lab draw, including hydration, exercise, fasting, supplements and what happens during the blood draw itself.

We’ll also talk about why pumping your fist can artificially affect your test results, what a hemolyzed sample means, and why creating a consistent lab-day routine can help you and your healthcare team make better decisions about your kidney health.

Because when nutrition recommendations are based on your lab results, we want to make sure we’re working with the best information possible.

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Let me know what your biggest takeaway was from today's episode! Find me on IG @kidney_nutrition_coach or email me directly at [email protected].

Want to become a master at interpreting your lab results and apply them to personalize your nutrition? Enroll in Kidney Nutrition 101 here!

"Food is medicine," is one of the most common phrases you'll hear in the nutrition world. But after a chronic kidney disease diagnosis, having this belief around nutrition can change your entire relationship with food.

When every bite becomes a prescription to follow or a mistake to avoid, food starts to lose something important. In this episode, we're talking about why food is so much more than medicine and explore how shifting your mindset can help you build a way of eating that not only supports your kidneys but also supports your life. Because the goal around food isn't to simply eat for your kidneys but is to build a life you actually enjoy living while protecting them.

If you find this episode helpful, I invite you to share your thoughts with me! Find me on Instagram @kidney_nutrition_coach. I would love to hear your feedback!

What is the relationship between nutrition and eGFR improvement?

If chronic kidney disease is considered irreversible, how is it possible for some people to see their eGFR improve after making nutrition and lifestyle changes?

In this episode, you'll learn how creating a healthier environment for your remaining kidney function can help your kidneys work more efficiently and, in some cases, lead to improvements in eGFR.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

Let me know what your biggest 'aha' moments or takeaways are from this episode! You can reach me at [email protected] or on Instagram @kidney_nutrition_coach.

If you feel like you're working so hard to eat for your kidneys but still aren't gaining momentum, this episode is for you.

Many people with chronic kidney disease rely on food lists to guide every decision they make. While they may seem helpful at first, food lists often create more confusion, fear, and restriction than confidence.

In this episode, we're talking about why food lists keep you stuck and what to focus on instead if you want to make meaningful progress in protecting your kidney health. You'll learn why a successful kidney diet is about strategy, not memorizing "good" and "bad" foods.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Why food lists can make eating for kidney disease feel overwhelming

- The biggest problem with labeling foods as simply "allowed" or "avoid"

- How food lists ignore the bigger picture of kidney nutrition

- Why confidence comes from understanding nutrition strategy, not following rules

- How to start making food decisions with purpose instead of fear

- The only food that should be on your 'avoid' list for CKD

If this episode resonated with you, I invite you to join The Undercover Element, a Masterclass designed to completely change the way you think about potassium in chronic kidney disease, help you to move past restrictive food lists, and create momentum in your diet with a potassium management strategy. You'll learn why potassium has become one of the most misunderstood nutrients in kidney nutrition and discover an evidence-based strategy for confidently including potassium-rich foods without unnecessary restriction.

Enroll here: https://www.thekidneynutritioncoach.com/undercover-element-masterclass

And if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little more confidence in their kidney nutrition journey.

In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, Summer shares her conversation from the Kidney Confidence Today Summit — one that quickly became a fan favorite among participants. Joined by fellow renal dietitian Michelle McMurtry, she dives into one of the most misunderstood topics in kidney care: weight loss.

If you’ve ever been told to “just lose weight” for your kidney health, without any guidance on how, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence you’ve been missing.

🎧 Tune in to learn: Why weight loss messages in CKD can be misleading — and even harmful The difference between intentional and restrictive weight loss How to focus on kidney-protective nutrition instead of diet culture

👉 Ready to learn more? Join Summer’s free masterclass: “Weight Loss for CKD: 5 Mistakes You’re Making and How to Fix Them” by clicking HERE!

Is the banana really that bad? You’ve probably heard that it’s full of sugar, spikes blood sugar, or should be avoided if you have CKD or diabetes. In this short and sweet episode, I’m busting the most ridiculous myths about bananas and explaining why this fruit deserves a place on your plate. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why bananas have been unfairly labeled as “bad”
✅ The truth about sugar and blood sugar spikes
✅ How bananas fit into a kidney-friendly or diabetes-friendly eating pattern
✅ One key mindset shift to ditch food fear and reclaim confidence in your choices

🔗 Resources & Links:

Instagram: @kidney_nutrition_coach

Website: www.thekidneynutritioncoach.com

Free Guide: The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Proteins for CKD