Health for Holidays

Health for Holidays

Kidney-Friendly Tips for Holiday Gatherings

Bring health for the holidays this year and avoid the discomfort or guilt from overeating. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or other holidays, have a happy and healthy holiday season!

  • Edible Gifts… Add a little cheer this year and give the gift of homemade food to the host. How about an appetizer or dessert they simply can’t resist and is good for you too!?
  • Lend a Hand… In the spirit of giving and thankfulness, why not help in the kitchen? Oufb00ering to help cook, prepare, or supervise can be a great way to cook healthy.
  • Tell Me More… Your family and friends might love to cook or bake for you. Share a recipe you have found or send them a list of which ingredients to use and to avoid. This can be their gift to you this year.
  • Healthy Hosting… If you plan to host, ask your friends and family for help. Talk with them about how you can make meals kidney-friendly. Try using fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary to add ufb02avor to meals instead of salt.

 

Delicious Foods You Can Enjoy

Try these kidney-friendly dishes this holiday season:

  • Mashed cauliufb02ower or double-boiled mashed potatoes
  • Collard, turnip, and mustard greens with vinegar and raisins
  • Green beans with shaved almonds, olive oil, or no salt butter/margarine
  • Glazed carrots with brown sugar or a brown sugar substitute
  • Fresh or frozen from fresh all-natural turkey breast, pork loin, uncured ham, or fish
  • Homemade stuffing or dressing
  • Oven-roasted bell peppers, yellow squash, onion, or zucchini with olive oil, herbs and spices
  • Cinnamon-poached pears
  • Homemade apple or cherry pies and crisps

Remember:

  • Always check food labels and limit anything with “phos” on the ingredient list.
  • Keep an eye out for high-salt and high-potassium foods that are common in some holiday treats.

 

Kidney-Friendly Shopping Guide

These four themes can be your guide when deciding what to buy and how to prepare for your special holiday.

Here’s to another happy and healthy holiday for you and your family!

  • Homemade — Save on phosphorus, potassium, and salt and add satisfaction by making meals at home, from scratch. While this may not be possible for every dish, try making one or two this holiday season.
  • All Natural — These types of fresh or frozen meats or seafood usually contain little to no added phosphorus or salt. Look for fresh ufb01rst! Then check the ingredient list to stay away from any that have added phosphorus (any words that contain “phos”).
  • Double-Boiled — This method will allow you to enjoy your potatoes, sweet or regular, and your candied yams with less potassium. To double boil, ufb01ll a large pot with water and boil peeled and thinly sliced or diced potatoes for 10 minutes. Strain, replace water, and re-boil for another 10 minutes.
  • Moderation — Sometimes you just need a taste! Not all holiday foods are kidney-friendly; try to enjoy these with a single bite.

Be a smart shopper and always check food labels! Limit foods with “phos” on the ingredient list. Be aware that some high-salt and high-potassium foods are common in holiday treats.

Talk with your dietitian about your special holiday and how you can make it happy and healthy!

 

International Favorites

Take a look at these popular holiday foods from around the world. Be sure to talk with your dietitian* about how to enjoy them in a kidney-friendly way!

  • Pasteles — A Puerto Rican Christmas holiday treat made with various types of meat, olives, green banana leaves, and tamale dough.
  • Sufganiyot — An Israeli powdered sugar jelly doughnut, deep-fried and with a drop of jam at the center. This is usually eaten for Hanukkah.
  • Menudo — A Mexican stew made with tripe, lime, onions, oregano, hominy, and cilantro and eaten with tortillas. This stew is traditionally eaten on New Year’s.
  • Pavlova — An Australian and New Zealand meringue cake topped with berries or kiwifruit and covered in whipped cream. It is named after the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova. This cake is eaten on Christmas day.
  • Jansson's Temptation —    A Swedish sweet-and-salty casserole eaten during the winter holidays.
  • Mithai — Indian sweets commonly eaten during Diwali, the Hindu “Festival of Lights” holiday.
  • Jollof Rice — A Nigerian dish made with rice, tomatoes, spices, and sometimes meat. This is typically eaten at Kwanzaa.
  • Candied Yams — An American side dish made with yams or sweet potatoes, marshmallows, and usually pecans. It is served at both Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday meals.