Draft: not yet reviewed by a clinician

Use this page to prepare questions for your care team. It does not replace their advice. Your own targets and doses come from your nephrologist, diabetes team and renal dietitian.

Grocery lists for the sample menus¶

One checklist per sample menu, for one person for a week, generated from the menus so the amounts always match. Tick items off on your phone or print the page. Fresh food over packaged: more than 70 % of the sodium people eat comes from packaged and restaurant food, and phosphate additives are absorbed almost completely.

Stages 1 and 2¶

For one person for 7 days of the Stages 1 and 2 menu. Amounts are what the menu serves; buy a little more for cooking loss (raw meat and fish shrink by about a quarter when cooked).

Meat, Poultry & Eggs

Beef, top sirloin steak, broiled: 2 oz (57 g)
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless: 1½ oz (43 g)
Egg, hard-boiled: 1 large (50 g)
Egg, scrambled: 1 large (61 g)
Turkey breast, roasted: 2 oz (57 g)

Fish & Seafood

Cod, Atlantic, cooked: 2½ oz (71 g)
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, cooked: 3 oz (85 g)
Tilapia, cooked: 2 oz (57 g)

Legumes, Nuts & Seeds

Dairy & Alternatives

Almond milk, unsweetened: ½ cup (131 g)
Butter, unsalted: 8½ tbsp (121 g)
Cheese, cheddar: ½ oz (14 g)
Greek yogurt, plain, nonfat: 1 container, 6 oz (170 g)
Milk, 2% reduced fat: 2 cups (488 g)
Parmesan cheese, grated: 1 tbsp (5 g)
Soy milk, unsweetened: 1 cup (243 g)

Grains & Breads

Bread, whole-wheat: 11 slices (352 g)
Crackers, whole-wheat: 4 crackers (19 g)
Oatmeal, cooked (regular or quick oats): 3 cups (702 g)
Pasta, whole-wheat, cooked: 2 cups (234 g)
Quinoa, cooked: 1.4 cups (259 g)
Rice, brown, cooked: 3¼ cups (657 g)
Shredded wheat cereal: 2 cups (98 g)
Tortilla, corn: 2 tortillas (52 g)

Vegetables

Fruits

Condiments & Sauces

Canola oil: 1 tbsp (14 g)
Lemon juice, fresh: 6 tbsp (91 g)
Mayonnaise: 2 tbsp (28 g)
Olive oil: 14½ tbsp (196 g)
Salsa: 4 tbsp (72 g)
Soy sauce, reduced sodium: ⅓ tbsp (5 g)
Vinegar, cider: 1 tbsp (15 g)

Beverages

Coffee, brewed: 7 cups (1,659 g)

Sweets & Snacks

Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted: 18 cups (144 g)

Stage 3 (G3a–G3b), no dialysis¶

For one person for 7 days of the Stage 3 (G3a–G3b), no dialysis menu. Amounts are what the menu serves; buy a little more for cooking loss (raw meat and fish shrink by about a quarter when cooked).

Meat, Poultry & Eggs

Beef, chuck pot roast, braised: 2 oz (57 g)
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless: 5 oz (143 g)
Chicken thigh, roasted, skinless: 2 oz (57 g)
Egg white: 1 large (33 g)
Egg, hard-boiled: 5 large (250 g)
Ground beef, 90% lean, patty: 1½ oz (43 g)
Ground turkey, 93% lean, patty: 1½ oz (43 g)
Pork loin chop, broiled: 2 oz (57 g)
Turkey breast, roasted: 3 oz (85 g)

Fish & Seafood

Cod, Atlantic, cooked: 2 oz (57 g)
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, cooked: 2½ oz (71 g)
Tuna, light, canned in water, drained: 1½ oz (43 g)

Legumes, Nuts & Seeds

Peanut butter: 2 tbsp (32 g)

Dairy & Alternatives

Almond milk, unsweetened: ¾ cup (197 g)
Butter, unsalted: 13 tbsp (185 g)
Cream cheese: 6 tbsp (87 g)
Half and half: 4 tbsp (60 g)

Grains & Breads

Vegetables

Fruits

Condiments & Sauces

Canola oil: 4 tbsp (56 g)
Ketchup, low sodium: 2 tbsp (34 g)
Lemon juice, fresh: 3 tbsp (46 g)
Mayonnaise: 7½ tbsp (104 g)
Mustard, yellow: 1 tsp (5 g)
Olive oil: 8 tbsp (108 g)
Vinegar, cider: 2 tbsp (30 g)

Beverages

Coffee, brewed: 4 cups (948 g)
Tea, black, brewed: 3 cups (711 g)

Sweets & Snacks

Cake, angel food: 1 piece, 1/12 of cake (28 g)
Graham crackers: 1 large rectangle (14 g)
Jam or preserves: 1½ tbsp (30 g)
Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted: 6 cups (48 g)
Sherbet, orange: 1½ cups (222 g)
Vanilla wafers: 8 wafers (30 g)

Stages 4 and 5, no dialysis¶

For one person for 7 days of the Stages 4 and 5, no dialysis menu. Amounts are what the menu serves; buy a little more for cooking loss (raw meat and fish shrink by about a quarter when cooked).

Meat, Poultry & Eggs

Fish & Seafood

Cod, Atlantic, cooked: 2 oz (57 g)
Tuna, light, canned in water, drained: 2 oz (57 g)

Dairy & Alternatives

Butter, unsalted: 11 tbsp (156 g)
Cream cheese: 11 tbsp (160 g)
Rice milk, unsweetened: 1 cup (240 g)

Grains & Breads

Vegetables

Fruits

Condiments & Sauces

Canola oil: 4 tbsp (56 g)
Ketchup, low sodium: 1 tbsp (17 g)
Lemon juice, fresh: 1 tbsp (15 g)
Mayonnaise: 7½ tbsp (104 g)
Olive oil: 8 tbsp (108 g)
Vinegar, cider: 2 tbsp (30 g)

Beverages

Tea, black, brewed: 7 cups (1,659 g)

Sweets & Snacks

Cake, angel food: 1 piece, 1/12 of cake (28 g)
Gelatin dessert (Jell-O): ½ cup (135 g)
Graham crackers: 1 large rectangle (14 g)
Jam or preserves: 2½ tbsp (50 g)
Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted: 3 cups (24 g)
Sherbet, orange: 1 cup (148 g)
Vanilla wafers: 24 wafers (90 g)

In-center hemodialysis¶

For one person for 7 days of the In-center hemodialysis menu. Amounts are what the menu serves; buy a little more for cooking loss (raw meat and fish shrink by about a quarter when cooked).

Meat, Poultry & Eggs

Fish & Seafood

Cod, Atlantic, cooked: 4 oz (113 g)
Tuna, light, canned in water, drained: 2½ oz (71 g)

Dairy & Alternatives

Almond milk, unsweetened: ½ cup (131 g)
Butter, unsalted: 9 tbsp (128 g)
Cream cheese: 2½ tbsp (36 g)
Half and half: 1 tbsp (15 g)

Grains & Breads

Vegetables

Fruits

Applesauce, unsweetened: 1¾ cups (427 g)
Blueberries, raw: 3¾ cups (555 g)
Clementine, raw: 1 fruit (74 g)
Grapes, red or green, raw: 1¾ cups (264 g)
Peaches, canned in juice: 1¼ cups (310 g)
Pears, canned in juice: 1¼ cups (310 g)
Pineapple, canned in juice: 1¼ cups (313 g)
Raspberries, raw: ½ cup (62 g)
Strawberries, raw: 2 cups, halves (304 g)

Condiments & Sauces

Canola oil: 4 tbsp (56 g)
Ketchup, low sodium: 1 tbsp (17 g)
Lemon juice, fresh: 1 tbsp (15 g)
Mayonnaise: 7½ tbsp (104 g)
Olive oil: 10 tbsp (135 g)
Vinegar, cider: 2 tbsp (30 g)

Beverages

Coffee, brewed: 6 cups (1,422 g)
Tea, black, brewed: 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g)

Sweets & Snacks

Cake, angel food: 2 pieces (56 g)
Gelatin dessert (Jell-O): ½ cup (135 g)
Graham crackers: 1 large rectangle (14 g)
Jam or preserves: 2½ tbsp (50 g)
Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted: 3 cups (24 g)
Sherbet, orange: 1 cup (148 g)
Vanilla wafers: 6 wafers (23 g)

Peritoneal dialysis¶

For one person for 7 days of the Peritoneal dialysis menu. Amounts are what the menu serves; buy a little more for cooking loss (raw meat and fish shrink by about a quarter when cooked).

Meat, Poultry & Eggs

Fish & Seafood

Cod, Atlantic, cooked: 3 oz (85 g)
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, cooked: 3 oz (85 g)
Tuna, light, canned in water, drained: 2½ oz (71 g)

Legumes, Nuts & Seeds

Peanut butter: 2 tbsp (32 g)
Tofu, firm: 0.4 block (122 g)

Dairy & Alternatives

Almond milk, unsweetened: ¾ cup (197 g)
Butter, unsalted: 8 tbsp (114 g)
Cream cheese: 4 tbsp (58 g)
Half and half: 1½ tbsp (23 g)
Parmesan cheese, grated: 1 tbsp (5 g)

Grains & Breads

Vegetables

Fruits

Condiments & Sauces

Canola oil: 4 tbsp (56 g)
Ketchup, low sodium: 2 tbsp (34 g)
Lemon juice, fresh: 3 tbsp (46 g)
Mayonnaise: 4 tbsp (55 g)
Olive oil: 9½ tbsp (128 g)

Beverages

Coffee, brewed: 5 cups (1,185 g)
Tea, black, brewed: 2 cups (474 g)

Sweets & Snacks

Gelatin dessert (Jell-O): ½ cup (135 g)
Graham crackers: 1 large rectangle (14 g)
Jam or preserves: ½ tbsp (10 g)
Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted: 3 cups (24 g)
Sherbet, orange: ½ cup (74 g)
Vanilla wafers: 8 wafers (30 g)

After a kidney transplant¶

For one person for 7 days of the After a kidney transplant menu. Amounts are what the menu serves; buy a little more for cooking loss (raw meat and fish shrink by about a quarter when cooked).

Meat, Poultry & Eggs

Beef, top sirloin steak, broiled: 2½ oz (71 g)
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless: 4½ oz (129 g)
Chicken thigh, roasted, skinless: 2½ oz (71 g)
Egg, hard-boiled: 3 large (150 g)
Egg, scrambled: 2 large (122 g)
Ground turkey, 93% lean, patty: 2½ oz (71 g)
Pork tenderloin, roasted: 2½ oz (71 g)
Turkey breast, roasted: 1½ oz (43 g)

Fish & Seafood

Cod, Atlantic, cooked: 2½ oz (71 g)
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, cooked: 5½ oz (156 g)
Tuna, light, canned in water, drained: 2 oz (57 g)

Legumes, Nuts & Seeds

Dairy & Alternatives

Butter, unsalted: 14½ tbsp (206 g)
Cheese, cheddar: 2 oz (56 g)
Milk, 2% reduced fat: 2½ cups (610 g)
Parmesan cheese, grated: 1 tbsp (5 g)

Grains & Breads

Vegetables

Fruits

Condiments & Sauces

Beverages

Coffee, brewed: 6 cups (1,422 g)

Sweets & Snacks

Maple syrup: 1 tbsp (20 g)
Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted: 12 cups (96 g)
Sherbet, orange: 2 cups (296 g)
Sugar, brown: 5 tsp, packed (23 g)

Herbs and spices without salt (black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, cinnamon)
A salt-free seasoning blend whose label does not list potassium chloride
Lemons or bottled lemon juice, cider or balsamic vinegar, fresh garlic
Olive or canola oil, unsalted butter, mayonnaise
Low-sodium ketchup and yellow mustard
Glucose tablets or gel for lows: keep them at home, in the car and in your bag

Check the label for

"PHOS" in the ingredient list (phosphoric acid, sodium phosphate, any "…phosphate"): choose another brand. Phosphorus is not required on the US Nutrition Facts label.
Potassium chloride or other potassium salts, often in salt substitutes and "reduced sodium" soups, sauces and deli meats.
Sodium per serving: 140 mg or less is "low sodium"; 460 mg or more (20 % DV) is high.
Fresh meat or poultry "enhanced", "self-basting" or "injected" with a solution: it adds sodium and phosphate. Buy plain.
Total carbohydrate × the servings you will eat, for your insulin plan.

Sources¶

USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy): nutrient values.
AKF potassium food guide and NKF: 40 low-potassium fruits and vegetables: the low-potassium list.
NIDDK: healthy eating for adults with CKD and NKF: phosphorus and your CKD diet: "PHOS" additives and label reading.
FDA: sodium in your diet: where sodium comes from and label claims.
NKF: potassium and your CKD diet: salt substitutes and lite salt are high in potassium.

Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Facts and sources last checked 2026-10-05.

Grocery lists for the sample menus¶

Stages 1 and 2¶

Stage 3 (G3a–G3b), no dialysis¶

Stages 4 and 5, no dialysis¶

In-center hemodialysis¶

Peritoneal dialysis¶

After a kidney transplant¶

Staples for every menu¶

Sources¶