Kidney-Friendly Healthy Snacks

The project chosen was suggested by my preceptor, which was to create healthy snacks that meet the energy and nutrient recommendations for post-renal transplant patients to assist with healthy weight gain or healthy weight loss. Each of the snacks is approximately 200 calories or less, the potassium content is 200 mg or less, the phosphorus content is 150 mg or less, and the sodium content is 200 mg or less. This project is pertinent to this population because the patients are required to monitor their diet, especially their consumption of these three nutrients. The patients are often taking medications which elevate their potassium levels while decreasing their phosphorus levels. They must be constantly aware of their dietary potassium and phosphorus intake to maintain healthy levels of these nutrients. This handout provides healthy snack options that also can be used to help patients who experience an increased appetite while taking steroids.

This project was approved by my preceptor, a transplant RD, who sees renal patients and educates them regularly. It was also validated by several different patients and staff members. Different kidney transplant patients who were in the waiting room were interviewed about their opinions on the handout, the layout, and about the food choices that are listed.