There is no single kidney disease diet

Kidney nutrition advice can look very different from one person to another. What is appropriate for you depends on how well your kidneys are working, your blood results, other health conditions, medications and whether you are receiving dialysis.

Earlier Kidney Disease

You may need fewer changes than you expect

A diagnosis of kidney disease does not automatically mean following a highly restrictive diet. We can help you understand which changes are relevant now and which ones you do not need to worry about.

Changing Kidney Function

Nutrition can change over time

As kidney function or blood results change, your nutrition priorities may change too. We can adjust your eating plan rather than leaving you with the same restrictions indefinitely.

Dialysis

Your needs may be quite different

Dialysis can change your requirements for protein, fluid and certain minerals. Your dietitian can work with your kidney team and blood results to help make those recommendations practical.

You do not need to remove foods “just in case”.

Kidney diets are often associated with long lists of foods to avoid. Our approach is different. We focus on the changes that are actually relevant to you and aim to keep your diet as varied, nourishing and enjoyable as possible.

How a kidney disease dietitian can help

Renal nutrition can involve several different nutrients, but you should not have to work through them alone. We help turn recommendations from your kidney team into meals and food choices that make sense in everyday life.

Salt & Sodium

Reduce salt without losing flavour

We can identify where sodium is coming from in your usual diet and help you find lower-salt alternatives that still feel like normal food.

Protein

Find the amount that suits you

Protein needs can differ depending on your stage of kidney disease and treatment. We can review how much you currently eat and help distribute it across meals in a practical way.

Potassium

Make changes only when needed

Not everyone with kidney disease needs a low-potassium diet. If your healthcare team has identified high potassium as a concern, we can help you choose appropriate portions, swaps and meals.

Phosphate

Understand where it is coming from

If phosphate needs attention, we can review your usual foods and help identify practical changes while protecting your overall nutrition.

Fluids

Follow the right advice for you

Fluid needs vary. Some people need to focus on staying well hydrated, while others may receive a fluid allowance from their kidney team. We can help you put that advice into practice.

Overall Nutrition

Keep enough food going in

Kidney disease can sometimes make eating more difficult. If appetite, weight or food intake has changed, we can help you maintain energy and nutrition while considering your kidney needs.

What can I eat with kidney disease?

It is one of the first questions many people ask. The answer usually depends less on a universal list of “kidney foods” and more on what your own body and blood results are telling your healthcare team.

Start with what you already eat Rather than handing you a completely new diet, we review your current meals and identify the changes that are likely to make the biggest difference.
Keep variety where you can Restricting more foods than necessary can make meals harder and may reduce nutritional intake. We aim to keep as many suitable foods available to you as possible.
Make manageable changes Kidney disease is usually managed over the long term. We focus on changes you can realistically continue rather than expecting your diet to become perfect overnight.
Adjust as your needs change Your nutrition plan can be reviewed as kidney function, medications, treatment, appetite or blood results change.
Potassium and phosphate do not need to be restricted by everyone with kidney disease.

Before cutting out fruit, vegetables, dairy, wholegrains or other nutritious foods, check whether a restriction is actually needed. Your kidney team and dietitian can help interpret your individual requirements.

Making sense of nutrition and your blood results

Kidney nutrition advice often needs to be considered alongside your pathology results and medical treatment. This is why advice found online may not be appropriate for everyone with kidney disease.

Potassium

Your result matters

If potassium is within the range your medical team is comfortable with, you may not need to avoid the many nutritious foods that naturally contain potassium.

Phosphate

Look beyond a food list

Where phosphate is elevated, we can consider your overall intake, food choices and any instructions provided by your kidney team.

Kidney Function

Advice may change

Changes in kidney function can affect what your healthcare team wants you to prioritise. Regular nutrition review can help keep your dietary advice relevant.

Kidney disease, diabetes and blood pressure

Kidney disease often needs to be managed alongside other health concerns. Nutrition advice should consider the whole person rather than treating each condition as a separate diet.

Diabetes We can consider blood glucose management alongside your kidney nutrition needs so you are not trying to follow two conflicting sets of food rules.
Blood pressure Reducing excess sodium is often an important part of kidney and blood pressure management. We can help identify realistic places to make changes.
Multiple health conditions If you are managing kidney disease alongside heart disease, diabetes, weight changes or another condition, we can develop one practical nutrition approach around your priorities.

Nutrition support during dialysis

Starting dialysis can change your nutrition needs again. Instead of simply restricting more foods, the focus may include making sure you are eating enough while managing nutrients and fluids that your kidney team is monitoring.

Protein

Requirements may increase

People receiving dialysis can have different protein requirements from people with earlier-stage kidney disease. We can help work suitable protein foods into your usual meals.

Fluid

Manage your individual allowance

If your dialysis team has provided a fluid allowance, we can help you understand what counts as fluid and find ways to make the allowance easier to manage.

Blood Results

Adapt your food choices

Potassium, phosphate and other dietary priorities can change over time. We can adjust your nutrition plan around the advice and results provided by your renal team.

Dialysis nutrition should be personalised.

The type and frequency of dialysis, your remaining kidney function, blood results, appetite, body weight and other medical conditions can all influence your nutrition needs.

When eating enough becomes difficult

Sometimes the problem is not deciding what to cut out. It is getting enough food in. Poor appetite, changes in taste, nausea, tiredness or multiple dietary restrictions can make meals increasingly difficult.

Appetite

Make smaller meals count

If full meals feel difficult, we can look at meal timing, portions and suitable higher-energy foods to help you get more nutrition from what you can manage.

Weight

Respond to unplanned weight loss

If your weight is falling without trying, we can review whether your current kidney restrictions are making it harder to meet your nutrition needs.

Food Enjoyment

Keep meals feeling like meals

Medical diets can take some of the enjoyment out of food. We work with your preferences and usual meals wherever possible rather than expecting you to eat from a rigid menu.

What to expect at your appointment

You do not need to understand every kidney result before seeing us. If you have recent pathology results, kidney clinic letters or nutrition instructions from your nephrologist, bring them along and we can work through the dietary side with you.

1 Understand your kidney journey We discuss your diagnosis, kidney function, treatment, other health conditions, medications and any dietary advice you have already received.
2 Review what you actually eat We look at your usual meals, drinks, snacks, appetite and food preferences rather than assessing your diet against a generic kidney meal plan.
3 Build clear next steps We prioritise the changes that matter most and give you practical food choices, meal ideas and strategies you can use at home.

Working alongside your kidney care team

Kidney disease often involves ongoing medical monitoring. Dietitian care works best when nutrition advice can be considered alongside your kidney function, pathology results and treatment plan.

GP Your GP can monitor your general health, kidney function and other conditions that may influence your kidney care.
Nephrologist & renal team Your kidney specialists monitor kidney function, treatment and medical priorities, including whether particular dietary changes are required.
Dietitian We help turn those medical and nutritional recommendations into realistic meals, food choices and everyday routines.

Access kidney dietitian support your way

Appointment options vary by location and availability. Our Client Care Team can help you find an option that works for you.

Clinic appointments

See one of our dietitians at selected clinic locations across South East Queensland.

Telehealth

Access kidney disease nutrition support from home through telehealth appointments available across Australia.

Selected home visits

Home visits may be available within selected service areas where attending a clinic is difficult.

View Appointment Options
✓
Individual kidney nutrition advice
Recommendations based on your health, treatment, blood results and current diet.
✓
Less confusion around food
Clear guidance about what actually needs changing and what can stay.
✓
Practical everyday support
Food swaps, meal ideas and strategies designed around your normal life.

Kidney disease dietitian FAQs

What does a kidney disease dietitian do?

A dietitian can review your current food intake alongside your kidney condition, treatment and any dietary recommendations from your healthcare team. We can then help with practical changes involving salt, protein, potassium, phosphate, fluids, appetite and overall nutrition where these are relevant to you.

Do I need a special renal diet if I have chronic kidney disease?

Not necessarily. Kidney nutrition needs differ considerably between people. Some people may only need a few targeted changes, while others with more advanced kidney disease or dialysis may require more specific dietary management.

Do I need to stop eating foods high in potassium?

Not everyone with kidney disease needs to reduce potassium. Potassium advice should take your kidney function, medications and blood results into account. Avoiding high-potassium foods unnecessarily can remove nutritious foods from your diet.

Do I need to avoid phosphate?

Phosphate restriction is not required for every person with kidney disease. If your kidney or medical team has identified phosphate as a concern, a dietitian can help identify which changes are most useful without unnecessarily restricting your diet.

How much protein should I eat with kidney disease?

Protein requirements depend on your individual circumstances and can change as kidney disease progresses or if dialysis is started. A dietitian can review your intake and help you understand an appropriate amount for your situation.

Do I need to restrict how much I drink?

Not everyone with kidney disease needs a fluid restriction. Some people need to focus on staying adequately hydrated, while some people with kidney failure or receiving dialysis may be given a specific fluid allowance. Follow the advice provided by your treating kidney team.

Can a dietitian help if I am on dialysis?

Yes. Dialysis can change requirements for protein, fluid, potassium, phosphate and overall energy intake. Nutrition advice should consider your dialysis treatment, blood results, appetite, weight and the recommendations of your renal team.

Can you help with kidney disease and diabetes together?

Yes. We can consider kidney health, blood glucose management and your overall nutrition together so you are not left trying to combine several different and potentially confusing food plans.

What should I bring to my dietitian appointment?

Bring any recent pathology results, kidney clinic letters or dietary recommendations you have available. It can also be helpful to think about what you normally eat and any foods you have already stopped eating because of your kidney disease.

Can I see a kidney disease dietitian by telehealth?

Yes. Simply Nutrition offers telehealth dietitian appointments across Australia, including nutrition support for chronic kidney disease and renal nutrition.

Do I need a referral?

You can contact our team directly about an appointment. Referrals from GPs, nephrologists and other health professionals can also be submitted to Simply Nutrition.

Need clearer advice about eating with kidney disease?

Get practical dietitian support to understand your kidney nutrition needs, make sense of dietary restrictions and build meals that work for your health and everyday life.

Submit a Referral Contact Our Team
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