My Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 CKD

There sites on the web for specific dietry needs including kidney failure. Your dad is probably under the care of the nephrologists, this department has dietitians available who would like the opportunity to give advice and guidance. Usually you can phone them for help, certainly they like to talk face to face and use the results of blood tests for extra specific guidance.  For myself, I used the Internet to find lists of foods high in potassium and phosphates to be avoided (or limited) and list of protein values to ensure I chose food that would fulfil daily requirements. It is not as difficult as it first appears! 

When you understand - it is quite easy really- have a chat with your dad and give him simple lists to refer to (for when he can face them).  Most of the ready meals I like don't have enough protein in them so I have to add something to them (fish, eggs, meat) to make up the required daily amount.

Good hunting. Stop worrying - treat it as a fun research project.

Before diet, remember that most meds have some effect on the kidneys. Before you start her any meds or supplements/vitamins, ask: "Does this impact the kidneys?"

Diet: Limit (as close to zero, as possible), protein; especially, animal protein. My mom is borderline stage 5 (it took 2 years to get here from stage 4), and she rarely eats beef.  She occasionally has chicken. And to give her an energy boost, she'll have some watered down chicken broth (homemade is best, but you can read labels and find some are significantly lower in sodium than others -- don't assume "low sodium" is really the lowest sodium broth out there).  I also give her vegetable broth, but of course, read the labels.  In the meantime, keep track of potassium.

Frozen is okay -- just read the labels. I try to find my mom frozen meals with sodium under 500 mg.    My goal is to keep her under 1200 mg sodium/day.  I find there is a Dr. Praeger California veggie burger she likes, so I serve that with some rice, pasta, or with salt-free bread.  There are some vegan mayos out there that add some kick to her sandwiches.  You may hear some complaints about salt-free bread, but you can mix it up with lavash bread or Thomas's bagel thins, both low in sodium.

Parsley acts as a diuretic. Make a batch of salt-free abbouli, heavy on the parsley.  If you don't want a lot of trips to the bathroom at night, then have limit diuretics to before 1 pm, or so. The earlier in the day, the better.

A standard meal is rice and steamed veggies.  My mom also likes fish, and I try to get her to eat salmon -- but eventually, she got tired of it.

Generally, breakfast is a sodium free toast or lavash or a bagel thin with a little bit of cream cheese or paneer cheese (low sodium) or lebni (with a dash of olive oil and a sprinkle of dried mint) . Sometimes, I'll add some fruit preserves.  She doesn't like oatmeal, but she'll have it, at times. Also, she ikes shredded wheat  (usually is low sodium) with a little bit of milk.

Lunch can be a salad sandwich  with a slice of swiss cheese(which is basically a veggie sandwich if you order it from Subway).  The lowest sodium salad dressing is usually raspberry.   Or, you can just do oil and vinegar.

Dinner is pasta  or rice with more veggies.  She also likes soups, which can be high in sodium, but you can water them down.  Celery can be high sodium, so limit that.  A variation topping for pasta is stirred yogurt with crush garlic and topped wih sumac spice (you can find it in Middle Eastern markets). If you add a couple of TBSP of broth on top, so it's almost soup-y, that can make it tasty.

He can usually have "tastes" of most food, but it's important to make them few and far between.

Good luck. He can stay at stage 4 (or even slip back to stage 3), if he is diligent.

Hi,

Does your Dad have a dietician, has he been told specifically to limit phosphate or potassium.  If not I would only change diet when told what to lower as if you lower phosphate and potassium and the levels are not high you can have too low levels and the outcome of low levels is just as drastic as too high.  When I was told to change my diet I was referred to a dietician in the renal unit who gave me printed sheets and told me what to eat and what to avoid and my bloods were checked regularly to ensure levels remained safe.  As you rightly say processed food is a definate no due to the salt levels, but healthy eating if blood levels are wrong is a no no also.  I low potassium diet is the most unhealthy diet I have been on and you would think healthy is better but not if your bloods say so.  Hope this helps a bit.  Do you know any of his blood results? Potassium of 5 is ok anything higher is bad and anything around 2 is too low.  Normal phosphate that is acceptable for CKD people is 0.80 if he has high phosphote he will know about it as he will itch like mad, don't worry if this happens you can take binders with food that help this.  If diet is changed and the level is normal it will go to low if it goes really low its IV treatment if around 0.55 its phosphate sandaz suppliments apparently tatse like lemonade, I have never tasted lemonade like that lol so I think that was just a best guess to get me to drink it lol.  Good luck and I hope you get a taylored diet for your dad soon.

I hope this helps. Good luck

I forgot to mention, he can have milk products as long as he takes a binder. The binder I take is called Renvela (sevelamer. carbonate). Most people take one but I take 2 when I eat cheese, milk, cocoa. Plus I take it if I eat any meat, chicken,or fish. I don't know what is called in the UK. It takes the phophorus out of your body. Fruits he can eat, but only a half of cup,canned plums,raspberry, strawberries, watermelon, pineapple grapes,grapefruit and blackberries. ONE cup of blueberry.

These has between 5 to 150 mg of potassium. Vegetables asparagus 4 stalks, one half a cup of green beans,cabbage, califlower,corn, cucumbers, these are between 5 to 150 mg of potassium. Occasionally, can eat items with 150 to 250 mg, 1 apple, 1 fresh peach,2, plums, one half cup of cherries, melons,papaya, canned peaches vegetables one half cup of.broccoli, beets,carrots, celery,mushrooms. Potato chips 10 oz, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. I hope this gives you some information on how to prepare meals.

I t is alot of information but I thought there are food he can eat. Also watch for salt intake. To much may increase swelling. Water , I am strictered. to only 4 cups of water, but ckeck with a nutritionist what is safe for your dad. Good luck

I hope this helps