My Favorite Kidney Friendly Snacks

Having kidney disease is a lot like starting a new job. You’re constantly asking “Is this ok? Am I doing this right?” until you get the hang of it and learn to trust yourself. Well, I want to make that period while you’re getting the hang of it a bit easier. 

I wanted to talk about some different kidney friendly snacks that you can just hide in the random nooks and crannies of your life so that when you oversleep or you’re late for an appointment or when your blood sugar gets low, you've got something on hand.

Full disclosure: I generally recommend a whole food diet. KDIGO (the big dogs of kidney disease) recommends a diet high in whole foods and low in processed foods(1) to keep the kidneys as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

As a practitioner, I prefer to take a realistic approach to kidney care. In 2024, it can be incredibly difficult to eat only whole foods all of the time. So, I find that some of these snacks have been helpful to my patients who like to keep a snack in their bag, purse, or desk for when they start to get a bit snacky!

Glazed pecans can be a great snack for the kidneys and for blood sugar control!

Kidney Friendly Snacks

• Applesauce - The cups or the squeezie pouches work! Applesauce is a bit heavy on the carbs at about 22g per cup, but its low in potassium and sodium and if you’re looking to perk up your blood sugar so that you can make it until dinner, it’s not a bad snack.
  

• Diamond of California, Pecan Pie glazed Pecans - I found these at Publix about a year ago and they’re delicious. They satisfy a sweet tooth with less than 15g of carbs and they’re low in protein and potassium so they’re also a great diabetic snack.
  

• Diamond of California, Himalayan Pink Salt Walnuts - These bad boys are delicious salty snacks - I like to keep them in my bag when I fly! They’re low in carbs and potassium and they’re loaded with fiber and Omega-3s! Omega 3s work to decrease inflammation in the blood vessels which is wonderful news for the kidneys(2).
  

• Rice Krispie Treat - a 22g bar - This beloved childhood snack isn’t ideal for everyday as it’s mostly sugar at 17g of carbs. But, it’s low in protein, sodium, and potassium and is likely not detrimental to kidney-health when enjoyed occasionally. 
  

• Kind Bar, Caramel Almond & Sea Salt - This delicious treat is low in sodium, only has about 16g of carbs + about 7g of fiber, and is a low potassium snack!
  

• Harvey Snaps Green Pea Snacks, Lightly Salted - These crunchy little guys are high in fiber and low in sodium. They’re right on the cusp of being considered a “high potassium food”, so I would limit them if you’ve been told to watch your potassium. Otherwise, they’re an excellent snack option when you’re craving something salty.

I find that having a snack at the ready can keep me from grabbing a soda or hitting a drive thru in the afternoon. 

So, I hope that you found a snack or two that you like on this list! Leave me a comment with your thoughts!

I am not sponsored by any of these companies, not do I receive any special compensation for their mention.