As a home dialysis patient, you likely already know how important it is to drastically reduce your sodium intake. Consuming large amounts of sodium can make high blood pressure even worse, leading to increased kidney damage.

But in a food landscape surrounded by sodium, cutting back is easier said than done. Here are a few sodium swaps to make your home dialysis diet both healthy and satisfying.  

Fresh and frozen veggies

Sodium and additives are often lurking in canned vegetables. Fresh veggies are always a healthy choice, but when you don’t have time to prep them, frozen vegetables are a great time saver. Most vegetables are frozen within a few hours of harvest in a process that preserves them without needing sodium or other chemical additives.

Herb blends

Just because you need to cut back on salt at the table doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a diet of bland, boring food. Explore the world of spices and herb by making your own seasoning blends. If you’re looking for a ready-to-use blend at the grocery store, be sure to select a no salt added variety.

Popcorn

Put down the potato chips in favor of homemade popcorn! It’s an easy snack to customize without using salt. Start by popping plain popcorn kernels and then add your favorite toppings, like melted unsalted butter, nutritional yeast, or spices.

Make it at home!

Swap processed foods like frozen meals and canned soups for their homemade versions. Making food at home on a regular basis does require more planning, but with a little prep work and creativity, you’ll be recreating old favorites in a new, home-dialysis-friendly way. Home cooking gives you complete control over what goes in your food. Check out the National Kidney Foundation’s recipe database for inspiration.