Food facts, tips and advice

If your dietitian or doctor has talked to you about making changes to your diet, you can use the simple Food Facts information which accompanies each recipe to check that it meets your individual needs.

The Food Facts will provide information on the per-serving phosphate, potassium, protein, calorie, carbohydrate and (natural) salt content of each recipe.

Right: an example of the Food Facts on one of our recipes pages.

Some recipes may contain ingredients which are higher in phosphate or potassium, but only in a small amount.

You can be reassured that all recipes have been very carefully analysed and approved by the British Dietetic Association Renal Nutrition Specialist Group (RNG), who look at the overall content per serving. This is always explained in the Food Facts.

You will also find additional advice from our chefs and dietitians, including how to adjust the amount of protein in each recipe or adapt a dish for a special diet.

Most recipes will include suggestions for a healthier option as well as cheaper options and useful storage tips.

Recipe categories at a glance

In the Kidney Kitchen we want to make it as simple as possible for you to enjoy a wide variety of delicious and healthy food. You'll see the following labels on our recipes.

Everyday Dish

Our Everyday Dish recipes are healthy, balanced meals which are safe to eat regularly. They follow healthy eating guidelines, are lower in fat and sugar and contain no added salt. This makes them good for the whole family to enjoy but particularly for those with diabetes, heart disease or who are trying to control their weight.

These recipes are not necessarily low in potassium or phosphate, so don’t forget to check the Food Facts if you have been advised to modify your intake of these.

Special Occasion

No one should have to miss out on the odd indulgence! These are recipes we suggest you save for a special occasion or enjoy as a treat in moderation.

Whilst they have been adapted to be more suitable for people with kidney disease, these recipes are higher in fat, sugar or salt content and so we suggest they are eaten no more than once per week.

Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten free

With a few small changes, most of our recipes can be easily adapted if you follow a special diet; just follow the advice in the Food Facts. However, those labelled as Vegan or Vegetarian can be enjoyed without having to make any changes at all!

What we mean when we say…

Low phosphate

These recipes are suitable if you have been advised to follow a low phosphate diet. They may contain some higher phosphate ingredients but when used in the quantities and serving sizes specified, the overall content of the dish is low.

If you have been prescribed a phosphate binder we will advise you when to take these according to the guidance you have received from your doctor or dietitian. Read the Food Facts for more information.

Low potassium

These meals are suitable if you have been advised to follow a low potassium diet. They may contain some higher potassium ingredients but when used in the quantities and serving sizes specified, the overall content of the dish is low. Read the Food Facts for more information.

Low protein

These meals are suitable if you have been advised to reduce the amount of protein in your diet. They contain no more than 20g per serving in a main meal and no more than 6g per serving in puddings or cakes. Read the Food Facts for more information.

Low protein diets should only be initiated under the supervision of a kidney dietitian and are not suitable for people receiving dialysis.

Low salt

We do not add salt to any Kidney Kitchen dish and low salt recipes will contain less than 0.3g salt per 100g. We adapt every dish to be as low in salt as possible and instead introduce more flavour using herbs and spices.

There are a few recipes which contain more salt naturally and fall slightly outside of our ‘low-salt’ parameters. Read the healthier options for more information and remember, most salt is in the food we buy, so it is important to check the labels.

Carbohydrate

If you have diabetes, all Kidney Kitchen meals are suitable for you. The carbohydrate content has been provided for those who have been trained in insulin adjustment.

The amount of carbohydrate per serving is an estimate based on the quantities and serving sizes specified. Read the healthier options for tips and suggestions to further reduce the fat, sugar, and salt in some recipes.

Calories

Our calorie information is calculated based on the quantities and serving size specified. As a guide, you may wish to choose the higher calorie meals if you are trying to gain weight and the lower calorie meals if you are trying to reduce or maintain your weight. Read the healthier options for tips and suggestions to further reduce the fat, sugar, and salt in some recipes.