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HF 326

Snack Ideas for Patients on Hemodialysis

Guidelines

Limit sodium to less than 200 mg at snack time. Always check food labels for sodium and serving size. Try to include a good source of protein. On any packaged items, avoid phosphorus additives. Check the ingredients list for “phos.”

Fruits

  • Small apple

  • ½ cup apple sauce

  • ½ cup berries

  • ½ cup grapes

  • ½ cup pineapple (fresh or canned)

  • Small tangerine

  • ½ cup canned fruit

Vegetables

  • ½ cup broccoli

  • ½ cup cucumber slices

  • 2 large celery sticks

  • 4-6 small radishes

  • ½ cup carrot sticks

  • ½ cup cauliflower

  • ½ cup sweet pepper slices

  • Small lettuce salad

When choosing dips or dressings, aim for low-sodium choices (less than 100 mg sodium per serving) and limit serving size to 2 tablespoons or less.

Dairy

  • ½ cup Greek yogurt

  • ½ cup pudding (avoid chocolate flavors)

Avoid dairy when able or limit to 4-6 ounces per day. When you choose it remember to take phosphorus binders.

Carbohydrates

  • Bagel or toast

  • Graham crackers

  • Teddy Grahams®

  • Pita chips

  • Unsalted pretzels

  • Rice cakes

  • Unsalted popcorn (try adding pepper or Mrs. Dash®)

  • Unsalted crackers

  • Unsalted tortilla chips

Avoid potatoes, bran, and chocolate-coated products.

Protein

  • Hard boiled or fried egg

  • 2 Tbsp. peanut butter (try on celery or apples, take phosphorus binder, limit to one serving per day)

  • Tuna, egg, chicken salad (sandwich, on crackers, or with veggies)

  • Protein bar (aim for flavors with less than 150 mg phosphorus and less than 200 mg potassium)

Desserts

  • ½ cup sherbet (count as fluid)

  • Low-fat Cool Whip® (add to fruit or Jell-O®)

  • ½ cup Jell-O®

  • Nilla® wafers

  • 4 Fig Newstons®

  • Small slice of angel food cake

Avoid eating a lot of sweets if you are trying to lose weight. Pick lower sugar options if diabetic.

Who to Call

If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed. You can also visit our website at www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.

Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH): (608) 890-5500

Nutrition clinics for UW Medical Foundation: (608) 287-2770