Festive Eating with CKD

• Roast turkey breast (80–100g) — protein with low phosphate.
• Roast potatoes: peel, dice, leach overnight, then roast in olive oil with rosemary.
• Roast parsnips and carrots (leached) with honey glaze.
• Brussels sprouts (low K, ~ 380 mg/100g) — quarter, blanch, then pan-fry.
• Sage and onion stuffing made from white bread, fresh herbs and unsalted butter (skip packet mixes — high salt).
• Cranberry sauce: homemade with fresh cranberries + apple juice (skip jarred — high sugar/salt).
• Gravy: skim turkey roasting juices, add unsalted stock cube + cornflour. Skip Bisto granules (very high sodium + additive phosphate).

Skip: pigs in blankets (processed meat, additive phosphate), packet stuffing mixes, bread sauce made with full-fat milk (use almond milk instead).

• Biryani: chicken thigh on the bone, basmati rice, fresh tomato puree, ginger-garlic paste made fresh.
• Lamb: 80g portion of lean lamb steak; avoid kebabs heavy in salt rubs.
• Naan: limit to 1 small piece — bread is the hidden salt source.
• Dates: enjoy 1–2 dates traditionally for Iftar (each ≈ 70 mg K). Avoid a whole bowl.
• Drinks: water with lemon and mint instead of Rooh Afza (high sugar) or salted lassi (high sodium).
• Sweets: gulab jamun, jalebi — share a small piece, don't eat a whole plate.

• Sweets (mithai): most are made with milk solids (high phosphate) and sugar. Share small pieces; don't make them a daily snack for the festival week.
• Savouries (namkeen, chivda, sev): very high salt — limit to a tablespoon.
• Festive meals: paneer tikka (50g portion), tandoori chicken (skip the salt rub at home), basmati rice, fresh chapati (skip the salted shop-bought ones), homemade dal (rinsed lentils, no salt).
• Sweet alternative: homemade kheer with almond milk and a small portion of basmati — much lower phosphate than traditional dairy kheer.

• Latkes: traditional potato pancakes — pre-leach grated potato by soaking 30 mins.
• Birthday cake: 1 small slice as a planned treat. Skip the second slice.
• Buffet strategy: take a small plate first, sit down to eat slowly, then decide if you want more.
• Hosting? Tell the host you can't eat very salty food — most will accommodate happily.

If you over-indulge:

• Drink to your usual fluid allowance — don't overload on water.
• Eat lighter the next day: porridge, salad with chicken, white fish.
• Resume your normal medications.
• Don't skip dialysis sessions.
• Don't 'detox' with juices or fasts — both are risky in CKD.