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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: in-center hemodialysis

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.

On hemodialysis protein goes up, to 70–84 g a day for 70 kg (1.0–1.2 g per kg), because dialysis removes protein and too little causes muscle loss. Potassium stays under 2,500 mg, phosphorus under 1,000 mg and sodium well under 2,000 mg, and fluid is counted: drinks plus foods that are liquid at room temperature (sherbet, gelatin, ice). The menus use about 450–850 mL of the 1,500 mL starting allowance, which leaves room for drinks with medicines and on hot days. Days 1, 3 and 5 are dialysis days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). Saturday and Sunday fall in the long weekend gap, the riskiest time for high potassium and fluid overload, so those days stay at the low end.

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 Hemodialysis (see Eating well). Every day below was checked against these numbers by scripts/build_handbook.py.

Per day Built to
Protein 70–84 g (1.0–1.2 g/kg)
Potassium at most 2,500 mg
Phosphorus at most 1,000 mg
Sodium at most 2,000 mg
Fluid (drinks and foods that are liquid at room temperature) at most 1,500 mL
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 (Monday, dialysis day) 1,816 193 81.5 1,522 819 1,146 641 12.5
Day 2 (Tuesday) 1,872 205 83.8 1,938 903 705 592 13.7
Day 3 (Wednesday, dialysis day) 1,754 216 77.0 1,926 848 1,325 592 19.3
Day 4 (Thursday) 1,775 203 76.7 1,820 779 1,098 832 17.5
Day 5 (Friday, dialysis day) 1,839 210 76.3 1,830 837 984 641 16.6
Day 6 (Saturday) 1,818 187 79.0 2,029 816 741 592 16.5
Day 7 (Sunday) 1,826 215 76.1 1,660 827 1,070 473 20.3

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: Monday, dialysis day

Dialysis day. Pack the afternoon snack and glucose tablets for the session; check your glucose before and after dialysis. Take phosphate binders with meals and snacks the way your team prescribed. Monday's session ends the long weekend gap.

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 –
Egg, scrambled 1 large (61 g) 1 6.1 81 101 88 –
Egg white (scrambled with the egg) 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
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 53 17.3 408 205 317 236
Lunch Bread, white 2 slices (58 g) 29 5.2 74 56 284 –
Turkey breast, roasted (home-roasted, not deli) 2½ oz (71 g) 0 21.3 177 163 70 –
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 ½ cup, slices (52 g) 2 0.3 76 12 1 –
Pineapple, canned in juice ½ cup (125 g) 20 0.5 152 8 1 –
Lunch total 52 28.1 585 258 495 –
Afternoon snack (pack for dialysis) Saltine crackers 6 crackers (18 g) 13 1.7 28 18 169 –
Cream cheese 1 tbsp (15 g) 1 0.9 19 16 46 –
Afternoon snack (pack for dialysis) total 14 2.6 47 34 215 –
Dinner Chicken breast, roasted, skinless 3 oz (86 g) 0 26.7 220 196 64 –
Rice, white, long-grain, cooked 1 cup (158 g) 45 4.3 55 68 2 –
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 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Dinner total 51 32.8 411 292 72 –
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
Drinks between meals Water, tap 1½ cups (356 g) 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Drinks between meals total 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Day 1,816 kcal 193 81.5 1,522 819 1,146 641

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: Tuesday

Non-dialysis day.

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Grits, cooked (cooked without salt) ⅔ cup (171 g) 25 2.9 46 34 3 –
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 (scrambled) 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
Peaches, canned in juice 1 cup (248 g) 29 1.6 318 42 10 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Breakfast total 55 14.8 600 177 137 236
Lunch Pasta, cooked ½ cup (62 g) 19 3.6 28 36 1 –
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless 2½ oz (72 g) 0 22.2 183 163 53 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Bell pepper, red, raw ½ cup, chopped (75 g) 5 0.7 158 20 3 –
Cucumber, with peel, raw ½ cup, slices (52 g) 2 0.3 76 12 1 –
Grapes, red or green, raw 1 cup (151 g) 27 1.0 288 30 4 –
Lunch total 53 27.8 733 261 62 –
Afternoon snack Rice cakes, plain, unsalted 2 cakes (18 g) 15 1.5 52 65 5 –
Jam or preserves ½ tbsp (10 g) 7 0.1 8 2 3 –
Afternoon snack total 22 1.6 60 67 8 –
Dinner Beef, chuck pot roast, braised (trimmed, no gravy) 3 oz (85 g) 0 29.5 234 181 48 –
Rice, white, long-grain, cooked ⅔ cup (105 g) 30 2.9 37 45 1 –
Cabbage, boiled ¼ cup, shredded (38 g) 2 0.5 74 13 3 –
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 –
Dinner total 54 37.4 404 289 273 –
Evening snack Cake, angel food 1 piece, 1/12 of cake (28 g) 16 1.7 26 91 210 –
Strawberries, raw ½ cup, halves (76 g) 6 0.5 116 18 1 –
Evening snack total 22 2.2 142 109 211 –
Drinks between meals Water, tap 1½ cups (356 g) 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Drinks between meals total 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Day 1,872 kcal 205 83.8 1,938 903 705 592

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: Wednesday, dialysis day

Dialysis day. Pack the afternoon snack and glucose tablets for the session; check your glucose before and after dialysis. Take phosphate binders with meals and snacks the way your team prescribed.

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 –
Egg, scrambled 2 large (122 g) 2 12.2 162 202 176 –
Egg white 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
Strawberries, raw ½ cup, halves (76 g) 6 0.5 116 18 1 –
Jam or preserves 1½ tbsp (30 g) 21 0.2 23 6 9 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Breakfast total 55 21.2 546 314 510 236
Lunch Pita bread, white 1 large, 6-1/2 in (60 g) 33 5.5 72 58 322 –
Tuna, light, canned in water, drained 2½ oz (71 g) 0 13.7 127 98 175 –
Mayonnaise 1½ tbsp (21 g) 0 0.2 5 5 132 –
Cucumber, with peel, raw ¼ cup, slices (26 g) 1 0.2 38 6 1 –
Lettuce, iceberg 1 cup, shredded (72 g) 2 0.6 102 14 7 –
Applesauce, unsweetened ¾ cup (183 g) 21 0.3 135 9 3 –
Lunch total 57 20.4 478 190 639 –
Afternoon snack (pack for dialysis) Vanilla wafers 6 wafers (23 g) 16 1.1 23 20 74 –
Blueberries, raw ½ cup (74 g) 11 0.5 57 9 1 –
Afternoon snack (pack for dialysis) total 27 1.6 80 29 75 –
Dinner Pork loin chop, broiled 3 oz (85 g) 0 22.7 303 194 48 –
Couscous, cooked 1¼ cups (196 g) 46 7.5 114 44 10 –
Green beans, boiled ¼ cup (32 g) 3 0.6 46 9 1 –
Cauliflower, boiled 1 cup (124 g) 5 2.2 176 40 18 –
Butter, unsalted 2 tbsp (28 g) 0 0.2 6 6 4 –
Dinner total 53 33.2 645 293 81 –
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 –
Drinks between meals Water, tap 1½ cups (356 g) 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Drinks between meals total 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Day 1,754 kcal 216 77.0 1,926 848 1,325 592

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: Thursday

Non-dialysis day.

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 ½ cup (131 g) 2 0.5 88 12 95 127
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 –
Egg white 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Breakfast total 55 14.0 452 137 458 363
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) 2½ oz (71 g) 0 18.5 236 143 48 –
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 1 tbsp (17 g) 5 0.2 48 4 3 –
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 –
Strawberries, raw ¼ cup, halves (38 g) 3 0.3 58 9 1 –
Blueberries, raw ¾ cup (111 g) 16 0.8 86 14 2 –
Lunch total 55 25.8 725 256 421 –
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 4 oz (113 g) 0 25.9 276 156 88 –
Rice, white, long-grain, cooked 1 cup (158 g) 45 4.3 55 68 2 –
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 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Peaches, canned in juice ¼ cup (62 g) 7 0.4 80 11 3 –
Dinner total 55 32.1 560 267 100 –
Evening snack Gelatin dessert (Jell-O) ½ cup (135 g) 19 1.6 1 30 101 114
Evening snack total 19 1.6 1 30 101 114
Drinks between meals Water, tap 1½ cups (356 g) 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Drinks between meals total 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Day 1,775 kcal 203 76.7 1,820 779 1,098 832

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: Friday, dialysis day

Dialysis day. Pack the afternoon snack and glucose tablets for the session; check your glucose before and after dialysis. Take phosphate binders with meals and snacks the way your team prescribed.

Meal Food Amount Carb g Protein g Potassium mg Phosphorus mg Sodium mg Fluid mL
Breakfast Cream of wheat, cooked (cooked without salt) 1¼ cups (314 g) 33 4.5 50 48 19 –
Raspberries, raw ½ cup (62 g) 7 0.7 93 18 1 –
Egg, hard-boiled 1 large (50 g) 1 6.3 63 86 62 –
Egg white (scrambled) 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
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
Breakfast total 55 18.1 416 195 286 236
Lunch Bread, white 2 slices (58 g) 29 5.2 74 56 284 –
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless (sliced, home-cooked) 2½ oz (72 g) 0 22.2 183 163 53 –
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 –
Grapes, red or green, raw ¾ cup (113 g) 21 0.8 216 23 3 –
Lunch total 53 29.2 670 272 477 –
Afternoon snack (pack for dialysis) Graham crackers 1 large rectangle (14 g) 11 1.0 24 26 72 –
Applesauce, unsweetened ½ cup (122 g) 14 0.2 90 6 2 –
Afternoon snack (pack for dialysis) total 25 1.2 114 32 74 –
Dinner Chicken thigh, roasted, skinless (stir-fried) 3 oz (85 g) 0 21.0 229 196 90 –
Rice, white, long-grain, cooked 1 cup (158 g) 45 4.3 55 68 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 ¼ cup, shredded (38 g) 2 0.5 74 13 3 –
Canola oil 2 tbsp (28 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Garlic, raw 1 clove (3 g) 1 0.2 12 5 1 –
Dinner total 55 27.1 559 308 100 –
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
Drinks between meals Water, tap 1½ cups (356 g) 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Drinks between meals total 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Day 1,839 kcal 210 76.3 1,830 837 984 641

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: Saturday

Non-dialysis day.

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 ½ tbsp (7 g) 0 0.5 10 8 23 –
Egg, scrambled 1 large (61 g) 1 6.1 81 101 88 –
Egg white 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
Pineapple, canned in juice ¾ cup (188 g) 29 0.8 228 12 2 –
Coffee, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.3 116 7 5 236
Breakfast total 57 16.5 542 182 382 236
Lunch Rice, white, long-grain, cooked ¾ cup (119 g) 33 3.2 41 51 2 –
Chicken breast, roasted, skinless 2½ oz (72 g) 0 22.2 183 163 53 –
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 –
Clementine, raw 1 fruit (74 g) 9 0.6 131 16 1 –
Lunch total 51 28.3 595 273 63 –
Afternoon snack Saltine crackers 5 crackers (15 g) 11 1.4 23 15 141 –
Cream cheese 1 tbsp (15 g) 1 0.9 19 16 46 –
Afternoon snack total 12 2.3 42 31 187 –
Dinner Ground turkey, 93% lean, patty (browned with garlic) 3 oz (85 g) 0 22.0 210 178 77 –
Pasta, cooked 1 cup (124 g) 38 7.2 55 72 1 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Garlic, raw 2 cloves (6 g) 2 0.4 24 10 2 –
Bell pepper, red, raw 1 cup, chopped (150 g) 9 1.4 316 40 6 –
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 51 31.6 732 315 91 –
Evening snack Pears, canned in juice ½ cup (124 g) 16 0.4 119 15 5 –
Evening snack total 16 0.4 119 15 5 –
Drinks between meals Water, tap 1½ cups (356 g) 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Drinks between meals total 0 0.0 0 0 14 356
Day 1,818 kcal 187 79.0 2,029 816 741 592

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: Sunday

Non-dialysis day in the long weekend gap: potassium and fluid stay at the low end until Monday's session.

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, scrambled 1 large (61 g) 1 6.1 81 101 88 –
Egg white 1 large (33 g) 0 3.6 54 5 55 –
Blueberries, raw ¾ cup (111 g) 16 0.8 86 14 2 –
Tea, black, brewed 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 1 0.0 88 2 7 236
Breakfast total 56 15.0 381 176 159 236
Lunch Bread, white 2 slices (58 g) 29 5.2 74 56 284 –
Egg, hard-boiled (egg salad) 1 large (50 g) 1 6.3 63 86 62 –
Egg white (in the egg salad) 2 large (66 g) 0 7.2 108 10 110 –
Mayonnaise 1½ tbsp (21 g) 0 0.2 5 5 132 –
Lettuce, iceberg 1 cup, shredded (72 g) 2 0.6 102 14 7 –
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 54 20.4 616 204 599 –
Afternoon snack Rice cakes, plain, unsalted 2 cakes (18 g) 15 1.5 52 65 5 –
Jam or preserves ½ tbsp (10 g) 7 0.1 8 2 3 –
Afternoon snack total 22 1.6 60 67 8 –
Dinner Chicken breast, roasted, skinless (baked with garlic and pepper) 3 oz (86 g) 0 26.7 220 196 64 –
Couscous, cooked 1⅓ cups (209 g) 49 8.0 121 47 11 –
Olive oil 2 tbsp (27 g) 0 0.0 0 0 0 –
Green beans, boiled ½ cup (63 g) 5 1.2 92 18 1 –
Cauliflower, boiled ½ cup (62 g) 3 1.1 88 20 9 –
Dinner total 56 37.0 521 281 85 –
Evening snack Cake, angel food 1 piece, 1/12 of cake (28 g) 16 1.7 26 91 210 –
Blueberries, raw ½ cup (74 g) 11 0.5 57 9 1 –
Evening snack total 27 2.2 83 100 211 –
Drinks between meals Water, tap 1 cup, 8 fl oz (237 g) 0 0.0 0 0 9 237
Drinks between meals total 0 0.0 0 0 9 237
Day 1,826 kcal 215 76.1 1,660 827 1,070 473

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

  • Egg whites are the lowest-phosphorus protein: about 3.6 g protein for 5 mg phosphorus each.
  • Drinks: water, tea or coffee can replace each other cup for cup; all of them count toward fluid, and so do ice chips, sherbet, gelatin and ice pops.
  • Protein foods: chicken, turkey, pork loin, cod and pot roast swap ounce for ounce; salmon and tilapia have more potassium (about 330 mg per 3 oz).
  • Fruit and vegetables: stay with the low-potassium list in ½-cup portions on non-dialysis days, especially on Sunday.

Make it yours

  • Scale for your weight. Protein here is 1.0–1.2 g per kg for 70 kg. At 60 kg that is 60–72 g a day, at 80 kg 80–96 g: change the meat at lunch and dinner by about ¾ oz for each 5 kg. Use the weight your unit gives you (often your dry weight).
  • Fluid is personal: the 1,500 mL here assumes you still pass about 500 mL of urine a day. Your unit sets your allowance and checks it at every session.
  • 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 on dialysis days: glucose often drops during and after a session. Check before and after, carry glucose tablets (they add no fluid), and treat a low straight away (Treating a low). Your team adjusts insulin for dialysis days.
  • 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).
  • 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.