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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.

7-day sample menu: stage 3, no dialysis

Starting points, not your prescription

These numbers are typical starting points from guidelines. Your nephrologist, diabetes team and renal dietitian set your own numbers from your blood tests, urine output and medicines, and change them as your labs change. If your lab report or your team says something different, they win.

This week shows how stage 3 kidney disease with type 1 diabetes can look on the plate: three meals with about 55 g of carbohydrate each, small snacks, about 56 g of protein (0.8 g per kg for a 70 kg adult), sodium well under 2,000 mg and no foods with phosphate additives. Potassium and phosphorus stay well under the stage 3 review ceilings without counting every fruit, because at stage 3 they are limited only if your blood tests run high. Drink to thirst: there is no fluid limit before dialysis unless your team sets one.

The numbers this menu is built to

Built for a reference adult: 70 kg, 170 cm, type 1 diabetes, using the app's starting targets for G3b (see Eating well). Every day below was checked against these numbers by scripts/build_handbook.py.

Per day Built to
Protein about 56 g (0.8 g/kg); days stay within 56–58.8 g
Potassium at most 3,500 mg
Phosphorus at most 1,000 mg
Sodium at most 2,000 mg
Energy from food 1,750–2,450 kcal
Carbohydrate about 55 g at each main meal (every meal 50–60 g); snacks 10–30 g

Also: no foods with phosphate additives.

Week at a glance

Day Energy kcal Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL Fiber g
Day 1 1,750 219 57.2 1,698 631 963 236 18.0
Day 2 1,799 206 57.1 1,574 741 313 285 20.1
Day 3 1,760 208 57.5 1,970 704 1,396 236 16.1
Day 4 1,764 208 57.5 1,940 722 759 285 16.3
Day 5 1,812 217 57.1 2,095 864 1,604 426 20.3
Day 6 1,750 211 57.3 2,163 787 869 236 24.8
Day 7 1,775 214 57.6 1,662 701 368 285 21.4

Amounts are what goes on the plate; meat and fish are cooked weights. Values are USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) figures from the app's food list, so every food can be found in the app by name and logged as shown. Brands vary: when a food has a label, the label wins.

Day 1

Based on the sample day in the original diet guide, scaled to the 70 kg reference person.

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Cream of wheat, cooked (cooked without salt) 1 cup (251 g) 26 3.6 40 38 15 –
Blueberries, raw ½ cup (74 g) 11 0.5 57 9 1 –
Bread, white (toasted) 1 slice (29 g) 14 2.6 37 28 142 –
Butter, unsalted 1 tbsp (14 g) 0 0.1 3 3 2 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Half and half 1 tbsp (15 g) 1 0.5 20 14 9 –
Breakfast total 52 7.6 273 99 174 236
Morning snack Applesauce, unsweetened 1 cup (244 g) 27 0.4 180 12 4 –
Morning snack total 27 0.4 180 12 4 –
Lunch Bread, white 2 slices (58 g) 29 5.2 74 56 284 –
Turkey breast, roasted (home-roasted, not deli) 1½ oz (43 g) 0 12.8 106 98 42 –
Mayonnaise 1½ tbsp (21 g) 0 0.2 5 5 132 –
Lettuce, iceberg 1 cup, shredded (72 g) 2 0.6 102 14 7 –
Cucumber, with peel, raw 1 cup, slices (104 g) 4 0.6 152 24 2 –
Pineapple, canned in juice ½ cup (125 g) 20 0.5 152 8 1 –
Lunch total 54 19.9 591 205 468 –
Afternoon snack Saltine crackers (unsalted tops if you can find them) 6 crackers (18 g) 13 1.7 28 18 169 –
Cream cheese 2 tbsp (29 g) 2 1.8 38 32 92 –
Afternoon snack total 15 3.5 66 50 261 –
Dinner Chicken breast, roasted, skinless 2 oz (57 g) 0 17.8 147 131 43 –
Rice, white, long-grain, cooked 1 cup (158 g) 45 4.3 55 68 2 –
Green beans, boiled 1 cup (126 g) 10 2.4 184 36 2 –
Cauliflower, boiled ¼ cup (31 g) 1 0.6 44 10 5 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Dinner total 56 25.1 430 245 51 –
Evening snack Peaches, canned in juice ½ cup (124 g) 14 0.8 159 21 5 –
Evening snack total 14 0.8 159 21 5 –
Day 1,750 kcal 219 57.2 1,698 631 963 236

Try this day in the app’s demo Opens the app and shows this day for you to check. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

Day 2

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Oatmeal, cooked (regular or quick oats) (plain, cooked in water) 1 cup (234 g) 28 5.9 164 180 9 –
Blueberries, raw ½ cup (74 g) 11 0.5 57 9 1 –
Bread, white (toasted) 1 slice (29 g) 14 2.6 37 28 142 –
Butter, unsalted 1 tbsp (14 g) 0 0.1 3 3 2 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Half and half 1 tbsp (15 g) 1 0.5 20 14 9 –
Breakfast total 54 9.9 397 241 168 236
Lunch Pasta, cooked 1 cup (124 g) 38 7.2 55 72 1 –
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless 1½ oz (43 g) 0 13.4 110 98 32 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Bell pepper, red, raw ¼ cup, chopped (38 g) 2 0.4 79 10 2 –
Cucumber, with peel, raw ½ cup, slices (52 g) 2 0.3 76 12 1 –
Lemon juice, fresh 1 tbsp (15 g) 1 0.1 16 1 0 –
Grapes, red or green, raw ½ cup, about 15 (76 g) 14 0.5 144 15 2 –
Lunch total 57 21.8 480 208 38 –
Afternoon snack Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted 3 cups (24 g) 19 3.1 79 86 2 –
Butter, unsalted (unsalted, melted) 1 tbsp (14 g) 0 0.1 3 3 2 –
Afternoon snack total 19 3.2 82 89 4 –
Dinner Cod, Atlantic, cooked 2 oz (57 g) 0 12.9 138 78 44 –
Couscous, cooked 1 cup (157 g) 37 6.0 91 35 8 –
Butter, unsalted 2 tbsp (28 g) 0 0.2 6 6 4 –
Lemon juice, fresh 1 tbsp (15 g) 1 0.1 16 1 0 –
Asparagus, boiled 4 spears (60 g) 3 1.4 134 32 8 –
Peaches, canned in juice ½ cup (124 g) 14 0.8 159 21 5 –
Dinner total 54 21.4 544 173 69 –
Evening snack Sherbet, orange ½ cup (74 g) 23 0.8 71 30 34 49
Evening snack total 23 0.8 71 30 34 49
Day 1,799 kcal 206 57.1 1,574 741 313 285

Try this day in the app’s demo Opens the app and shows this day for you to check. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

Day 3

Leaching the potato (peel, cut small, boil, drain, boil again in fresh water) lowers its potassium; the numbers below are for unleached potato, so they are on the safe side.

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast English muffin, plain 1 muffin (57 g) 26 4.4 75 76 264 –
Butter, unsalted 1 tbsp (14 g) 0 0.1 3 3 2 –
Strawberries, raw ¼ cup, halves (38 g) 3 0.3 58 9 1 –
Jam or preserves ½ tbsp (10 g) 7 0.1 8 2 3 –
Grapes, red or green, raw ¾ cup (113 g) 21 0.8 216 23 3 –
Tea, black, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 1 0.0 88 2 7 236
Breakfast total 57 5.6 448 115 280 236
Lunch Pita bread, white 1 large, 6-1/2 in (60 g) 33 5.5 72 58 322 –
Tuna, light, canned in water, drained 1½ oz (43 g) 0 8.3 76 59 105 –
Mayonnaise 1½ tbsp (21 g) 0 0.2 5 5 132 –
Celery, raw 1 stalk, medium (40 g) 1 0.3 104 10 32 –
Lettuce, romaine 1 cup, shredded (47 g) 2 0.6 116 14 4 –
Plum, raw 1 fruit (66 g) 8 0.5 104 11 0 –
Clementine, raw 1 fruit (74 g) 9 0.6 131 16 1 –
Lunch total 53 15.9 608 173 596 –
Afternoon snack Rice cakes, plain, unsalted 2 cakes (18 g) 15 1.5 52 65 5 –
Peanut butter 2 tbsp (32 g) 7 7.1 179 107 136 –
Afternoon snack total 22 8.6 231 172 141 –
Dinner Beef, chuck pot roast, braised (trimmed, no gravy) 2 oz (57 g) 0 19.7 156 121 32 –
Potato, boiled, peeled (leached and boiled) ½ cup (78 g) 16 1.3 256 31 4 –
Carrots, boiled ¼ cup, slices (39 g) 3 0.3 92 12 23 –
Hamburger or hot dog bun (dinner roll) 1 roll (44 g) 22 4.3 54 44 217 –
Butter, unsalted 2 tbsp (28 g) 0 0.2 6 6 4 –
Applesauce, unsweetened ½ cup (122 g) 14 0.2 90 6 2 –
Dinner total 55 26.0 654 219 282 –
Evening snack Vanilla wafers 8 wafers (30 g) 22 1.5 30 26 98 –
Evening snack total 22 1.5 30 26 98 –
Day 1,760 kcal 208 57.5 1,970 704 1,396 236

Try this day in the app’s demo Opens the app and shows this day for you to check. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

Day 4

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Grits, cooked (cooked without salt) 1 cup (257 g) 38 4.4 69 51 5 –
Butter, unsalted 1 tbsp (14 g) 0 0.1 3 3 2 –
Egg, hard-boiled 1 large (50 g) 1 6.3 63 86 62 –
Egg white 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
Peaches, canned in juice ½ cup (124 g) 14 0.8 159 21 5 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Breakfast total 53 15.5 464 173 134 236
Lunch Hamburger or hot dog bun 1 roll (44 g) 22 4.3 54 44 217 –
Ground beef, 90% lean, patty (patty, no salt added) 1½ oz (43 g) 0 11.1 142 86 29 –
Lettuce, iceberg ½ cup, shredded (36 g) 1 0.3 51 7 4 –
Onion, raw ¼ cup, chopped (40 g) 4 0.5 59 12 2 –
Ketchup, low sodium 2 tbsp (34 g) 9 0.4 96 8 6 –
Mustard, yellow 1 tsp (5 g) 0 0.2 8 5 55 –
Cabbage, raw (coleslaw) 1 cup, shredded (70 g) 4 0.9 119 18 13 –
Mayonnaise (coleslaw dressing) 1½ tbsp (21 g) 0 0.2 5 5 132 –
Vinegar, cider 1 tbsp (15 g) 0 0.0 11 1 1 –
Watermelon, raw 1 cup, diced (152 g) 12 0.9 170 17 2 –
Lunch total 52 18.7 714 202 460 –
Afternoon snack Graham crackers 1 large rectangle (14 g) 11 1.0 24 26 72 –
Blueberries, raw ¾ cup (111 g) 16 0.8 86 14 2 –
Afternoon snack total 27 1.7 110 40 74 –
Dinner Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, cooked 2½ oz (71 g) 0 15.7 272 178 43 –
Rice, white, long-grain, cooked ¾ cup (119 g) 33 3.2 41 51 2 –
Asparagus, boiled 4 spears (60 g) 3 1.4 134 32 8 –
Lemon juice, fresh 1 tbsp (15 g) 1 0.1 16 1 0 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Pears, canned in juice ½ cup (124 g) 16 0.4 119 15 5 –
Dinner total 53 20.8 582 277 58 –
Evening snack Sherbet, orange ½ cup (74 g) 23 0.8 71 30 34 49
Evening snack total 23 0.8 71 30 34 49
Day 1,764 kcal 208 57.5 1,940 722 759 285

Try this day in the app’s demo Opens the app and shows this day for you to check. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

Day 5

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Corn flakes cereal 1½ cups (42 g) 37 2.6 45 14 240 –
Almond milk, unsweetened ¾ cup (197 g) 3 0.8 132 18 142 190
Blueberries, raw ¾ cup (111 g) 16 0.8 86 14 2 –
Egg, hard-boiled 1 large (50 g) 1 6.3 63 86 62 –
Tea, black, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 1 0.0 88 2 7 236
Breakfast total 57 10.4 414 133 452 426
Lunch Bread, white 2 slices (58 g) 29 5.2 74 56 284 –
Egg, hard-boiled (egg salad) 2 large (100 g) 1 12.6 126 172 124 –
Mayonnaise 1½ tbsp (21 g) 0 0.2 5 5 132 –
Lettuce, romaine 1 cup, shredded (47 g) 2 0.6 116 14 4 –
Cucumber, with peel, raw ½ cup, slices (52 g) 2 0.3 76 12 1 –
Applesauce, unsweetened ½ cup (122 g) 14 0.2 90 6 2 –
Strawberries, raw ¾ cup, halves (114 g) 9 0.8 174 27 2 –
Lunch total 56 19.8 661 292 549 –
Afternoon snack Saltine crackers 8 crackers (24 g) 18 2.2 37 24 226 –
Cream cheese 2 tbsp (29 g) 2 1.8 38 32 92 –
Afternoon snack total 19 4.0 75 56 318 –
Dinner Chicken thigh, roasted, skinless (stir-fried) 2 oz (57 g) 0 14.0 153 131 60 –
Rice, white, long-grain, cooked ¾ cup (119 g) 33 3.2 41 51 2 –
Bell pepper, green, raw ½ cup, chopped (75 g) 4 0.6 131 15 2 –
Onion, raw ¼ cup, chopped (40 g) 4 0.5 59 12 2 –
Cabbage, boiled ½ cup, shredded (75 g) 4 1.0 147 25 6 –
Canola oil 2 tbsp (28 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Garlic, raw 1 clove (3 g) 1 0.2 12 5 1 –
Tangerine (mandarin), raw 1 medium (88 g) 12 0.7 146 18 2 –
Dinner total 57 20.2 688 256 74 –
Evening snack Cake, angel food 1 piece, 1/12 of cake (28 g) 16 1.7 26 91 210 –
Strawberries, raw 1 cup, halves (152 g) 12 1.0 232 36 2 –
Evening snack total 28 2.7 258 127 212 –
Day 1,812 kcal 217 57.1 2,095 864 1,604 426

Try this day in the app’s demo Opens the app and shows this day for you to check. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

Day 6

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Bagel, plain ½ bagel (50 g) 26 5.3 53 49 209 –
Cream cheese 2 tbsp (29 g) 2 1.8 38 32 92 –
Pineapple, canned in juice ½ cup (125 g) 20 0.5 152 8 1 –
Strawberries, raw ¾ cup, halves (114 g) 9 0.8 174 27 2 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Half and half 2 tbsp (30 g) 1 1.0 40 28 18 –
Breakfast total 57 9.6 573 151 327 236
Lunch Bread, whole-wheat 2 slices (64 g) 27 8.0 162 136 292 –
Turkey breast, roasted (home-roasted, not deli) 1½ oz (43 g) 0 12.8 106 98 42 –
Mayonnaise 1½ tbsp (21 g) 0 0.2 5 5 132 –
Lettuce, iceberg 1 cup, shredded (72 g) 2 0.6 102 14 7 –
Tangerine (mandarin), raw 1 medium (88 g) 12 0.7 146 18 2 –
Grapes, red or green, raw ½ cup, about 15 (76 g) 14 0.5 144 15 2 –
Lunch total 55 22.8 665 286 477 –
Afternoon snack Popcorn, air-popped, unsalted 3 cups (24 g) 19 3.1 79 86 2 –
Butter, unsalted (unsalted, melted) 1 tbsp (14 g) 0 0.1 3 3 2 –
Afternoon snack total 19 3.2 82 89 4 –
Dinner Pasta, cooked 1 cup (124 g) 38 7.2 55 72 1 –
Ground turkey, 93% lean, patty (browned with garlic) 1½ oz (43 g) 0 11.0 105 89 39 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Garlic, raw 2 cloves (6 g) 2 0.4 24 10 2 –
Onion, raw ½ cup, chopped (80 g) 8 0.9 117 23 3 –
Bell pepper, red, raw ¾ cup, chopped (113 g) 7 1.0 237 30 5 –
Lettuce, romaine (side salad) 1 cup, shredded (47 g) 2 0.6 116 14 4 –
Vinegar, cider 1 tbsp (15 g) 0 0.0 11 1 1 –
Dinner total 56 21.2 665 239 54 –
Evening snack Pears, canned in juice ¾ cup (186 g) 24 0.6 179 23 8 –
Evening snack total 24 0.6 179 23 8 –
Day 1,750 kcal 211 57.3 2,163 787 869 236

Try this day in the app’s demo Opens the app and shows this day for you to check. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

Day 7

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Cream of wheat, cooked (cooked without salt) 1 cup (251 g) 26 3.6 40 38 15 –
Strawberries, raw ½ cup, halves (76 g) 6 0.5 116 18 1 –
Raspberries, raw ½ cup (62 g) 7 0.7 93 18 1 –
Bread, white (toasted) 1 slice (29 g) 14 2.6 37 28 142 –
Butter, unsalted 1 tbsp (14 g) 0 0.1 3 3 2 –
Egg, hard-boiled 1 large (50 g) 1 6.3 63 86 62 –
Tea, black, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 1 0.0 88 2 7 236
Breakfast total 55 13.8 440 193 230 236
Lunch Rice, white, long-grain, cooked ¾ cup (119 g) 33 3.2 41 51 2 –
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless 1½ oz (43 g) 0 13.4 110 98 32 –
Green beans, boiled ½ cup (63 g) 5 1.2 92 18 1 –
Cabbage, boiled ½ cup, shredded (75 g) 4 1.0 147 25 6 –
Canola oil 2 tbsp (28 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Tangerine (mandarin), raw 1 medium (88 g) 12 0.7 146 18 2 –
Lunch total 54 19.5 536 210 43 –
Afternoon snack Rice cakes, plain, unsalted 2 cakes (18 g) 15 1.5 52 65 5 –
Jam or preserves 1 tbsp (20 g) 14 0.1 15 4 6 –
Afternoon snack total 29 1.6 67 69 11 –
Dinner Pork loin chop, broiled 2 oz (57 g) 0 15.1 202 129 32 –
Couscous, cooked ¾ cup (118 g) 27 4.5 68 26 6 –
Applesauce, unsweetened ¾ cup (183 g) 21 0.3 135 9 3 –
Green beans, boiled ½ cup (63 g) 5 1.2 92 18 1 –
Cauliflower, boiled ¼ cup (31 g) 1 0.6 44 10 5 –
Butter, unsalted 2 tbsp (28 g) 0 0.2 6 6 4 –
Dinner total 54 21.9 547 199 51 –
Evening snack Sherbet, orange ½ cup (74 g) 23 0.8 71 30 34 49
Evening snack total 23 0.8 71 30 34 49
Day 1,775 kcal 214 57.6 1,662 701 368 285

Try this day in the app’s demo Opens the app and shows this day for you to check. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

Swaps that keep the numbers

  • Oatmeal for Cream of Wheat (1 cup): about +125 mg potassium, +140 mg phosphorus and +2.7 g fiber. Fine at stage 3 when your potassium and phosphate results are in range.
  • Whole-wheat for white bread: about +45 mg potassium and +40 mg phosphorus per slice, with twice the fiber.
  • Brown rice for white (1 cup): about +120 mg potassium, +140 mg phosphorus and +2.6 g fiber.
  • Fruit: any ½ cup of applesauce, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes or canned pears or peaches can replace another, but check the carbohydrate: ½ cup of grapes is about 14 g, strawberries about 6 g.
  • Protein foods: chicken, turkey, pork loin, cod and pot roast swap ounce for ounce for potassium; salmon and tilapia have more (about 330 mg per 3 oz).

Make it yours

  • Scale for your weight. Protein here is 0.8 g per kg for 70 kg. At 60 kg that is about 48 g a day, at 80 kg about 64 g: shrink or grow the meat at lunch and dinner by about ½ oz for each 5 kg. Ask your dietitian which weight to use.
  • Carbohydrate stays steady: about the same amount at each main meal every day, so a fixed insulin plan or a carbohydrate ratio works the same way from day to day. Your own amount per meal comes from your diabetes team; keep it consistent and count what you actually eat (Carb counting).
  • Lows come first. Treat a low straight away with glucose tablets or another fast 15 g (Treating a low), even if it adds potassium or fluid. Rescue foods are on top of these menus and are never "against the rules".
  • Hungry, or losing weight without trying? Add calories with olive oil, unsalted butter or more measured starch covered by your usual insulin plan, not with more meat, and tell your dietitian (Eating enough).
  • Season without salt: herbs, spices, garlic and onion powder, lemon and vinegar. Do not use salt substitutes: they contain potassium chloride (Sodium).
  • Log it in the app: every food here is in the app's food list under the same name. Saved meals and "copy day" let you reuse a menu day (Planning and menus).

Sources

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