Renal (Kidney) Diet: Complete Guide

What is a renal diet?

A renal diet (or diet for kidney disease) is used when the kidneys are not working normally–as in chronic kidney disease (CKD). When kidney function is reduced, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus can build up in the blood, and fluid may need to be limited. Protein intake is sometimes reduced in later stages (chronic kidney disease low protein diet or low protein diet for kidney disease), but this is only when prescribed–too little protein can cause malnutrition. The CKD diet is the same idea: a diet plan that fits your stage and lab results.

There is no single “renal diet food list” that fits everyone. Your renal diet food list or chronic kidney disease diet food list depends on your limits. Often the renal diet includes: limiting sodium (salt), controlling potassium (a low potassium diet when your potassium is high), controlling phosphorus, and sometimes limiting protein and fluid. A low oxalate diet is different–it is used for certain kidney stones (calcium oxalate), not for CKD itself. Your nephrologist or renal dietitian will give you a personalised renal diet plan and renal diet foods guidance. Renal diet recipes should follow your specific limits.

Core principles (general–your plan may differ)

• Limit sodium (salt) as advised–often 2,000 mg or less per day.
• Control potassium: if your level is high, follow a low potassium diet (limit high-potassium foods as directed).
• Control phosphorus: limit high-phosphorus foods and phosphate additives as directed.
• Protein: only restrict if your doctor or dietitian recommends a low protein diet for kidney disease.
• Fluid: only restrict if your doctor advises it (e.g. on dialysis or with fluid overload).

How the renal diet works

In kidney disease, the kidneys may not remove enough sodium, potassium, and phosphorus from the blood. Too much of these can cause problems (e.g. heart rhythm issues from high potassium, bone and heart issues from high phosphorus). A diet for kidney disease helps by limiting intake of these minerals to levels your body can handle. Sodium also affects blood pressure and fluid retention. A low potassium diet reduces high-potassium foods when your potassium is elevated. Phosphorus is often limited by avoiding high-phosphorus foods and processed foods with phosphate additives. A chronic kidney disease low protein diet (when prescribed) may slow progression in some people but must be supervised to avoid malnutrition.

Your CKD diet or renal diet plan is adjusted over time based on your blood tests and stage of kidney disease. If you are on dialysis, your limits may change (e.g. more protein may be needed). Do not change your diet on your own–work with your nephrologist and renal dietitian.

What to eat and what to limit on a renal diet

The table below is a general overview of renal diet foods and what is often limited. Your own renal diet food list or chronic kidney disease diet food list will be set by your dietitian based on your potassium, phosphorus, and sodium results.

Potassium and phosphorus content of renal diet foods varies; your renal diet food list will specify which foods and portions are right for you. A low potassium diet typically limits bananas, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, beans, and dairy when potassium is high. For renal diet recipes, use minimal salt and choose ingredients that fit your limits. If you are on a low protein diet for kidney disease, your dietitian will tell you how much protein and from which sources. A low oxalate diet (for kidney stones) limits spinach, rhubarb, nuts, and other high-oxalate foods–ask your doctor if this applies to you.

Potential benefits of a renal diet

When individualised and followed with medical care, a diet for kidney disease may help:

• Keep sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in a safer range and reduce symptoms (e.g. fluid overload, high potassium).
• Support blood pressure control (sodium restriction).
• In some cases, a chronic kidney disease low protein diet (when prescribed) may slow progression–this is decided by your nephrologist.

Quality of evidence: diet is a standard part of CKD management in guidelines. Your best diet for kidney disease is the one your care team tailors to you. Do not self-prescribe a renal diet–limits depend on your labs and stage.

Risks and who should be cautious

Do not follow a renal diet without medical guidance. If you do not have kidney disease, restricting potassium or protein unnecessarily can be harmful. If you have CKD:

• Individual limits: Too little or too much potassium, phosphorus, or protein can be dangerous. Your limits are based on your blood results and stage.
• Low protein: A low protein diet for kidney disease is only for some people and must be supervised–too little protein causes muscle loss and malnutrition.
• Medication: Some medicines interact with diet (e.g. potassium-binding drugs, phosphate binders). Your doctor will coordinate.

Before starting or changing a renal diet or CKD diet, you must see your nephrologist or a renal dietitian.

Sample renal diet day (meal ideas–check with your dietitian)

This is a general example of renal diet style meals. Your portions and choices must match your own renal diet food list and limits. Do not use this as your plan without your dietitian’s approval.

• Breakfast: White toast with a small amount of low-sodium spread; an apple; perhaps one egg (if protein is allowed per your plan). Avoid high-potassium fruits and high-sodium processed foods.
• Lunch: Salad with lower-potassium vegetables (e.g. cucumber, lettuce, cabbage) and a small portion of grilled chicken or fish; use little or no salt. Or a simple sandwich with low-sodium bread and lean protein.
• Dinner: A small portion of lean meat or fish with lower-potassium vegetables (e.g. green beans, cauliflower) and a small portion of white rice or pasta. No added salt; use herbs for flavour.
• Snacks: Only what fits your plan–e.g. an apple, low-potassium crackers. Avoid nuts, bananas, and dairy if your low potassium diet or phosphorus limits require it.

For renal diet recipes and a personalised renal diet plan, work with your renal dietitian. They will give you a chronic kidney disease diet food list and meal ideas that match your sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein targets. See our low-sodium diet guide for general sodium reduction–but your kidney diet limits go beyond sodium and must be individualised.

Frequently asked questions about the renal diet

Summary

A renal diet (or diet for kidney disease, CKD diet) is used in chronic kidney disease to control sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and sometimes protein and fluid. Your renal diet food list and chronic kidney disease diet food list are set by your nephrologist or renal dietitian based on your blood results and stage. A low potassium diet is often part of it when potassium is high; a low protein diet for kidney disease is only when prescribed. The best diet for kidney disease is the one tailored to you–do not change your diet without your care team. For kidney stones, a low oxalate diet may be advised separately. For general sodium reduction, see our low-sodium diet guide; for kidney disease, always follow your renal dietitian’s plan.

Use our calculators with this diet

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Sources and further reading

This article is based on current scientific and clinical sources. For more detail, see:

• National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO): nutrition in CKD
• NICE and national guidelines on chronic kidney disease and diet
• Renal dietitian resources and CKD diet food lists (used with your care team)

Last updated: 20 February 2026. Content is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.