No salt, no meat, no fun. At least, that’s what it feels like most days.
If you’ve followed me for a while, then you know I’ve had to overhaul my entire diet since my cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Offloading my left kidney has forced me to cut back on the foods I love—all the meats, yogurt, and cottage cheese I could eat. I’ve also become hypervigilant about my sodium intake and now—thanks to (what could have been) a life-threatening health scare—my potassium levels.
To say it’s been difficult navigating these new limitations would be an understatement. It’s been downright hell. I, and many other kidney cancer survivors, don’t have to follow a renal diet, nor do we have specific off-limit foods. We’re just given vague nutritional guidance that leaves us in this space between “Can I eat this?” and “Should I eat this?”
🥩 Watch your protein—but this has too much sodium.
🧂 Watch your sodium—but the protein is too high.
🍌 Watch your potassium—but I want this banana.
It’s even more challenging when you’re a fitness enthusiast or athlete, and you want to make sure you’re consuming foods that optimize both your performance and your health. Just consider these two scenarios I often face:
❌ I’ve had to switch to more plant-based proteins, but those options tend to be higher in sodium.
❌ So far, the low sodium alternatives I’ve discovered tend to be protein-packed.
But we shouldn’t have to struggle so hard to manage these trade-offs. That is why I created The Stillwell Fit Pocket Grocery List for kidney health. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it will make it easier for you to adapt your diet for optimal health and performance.
The Stillwell Fit Pocket Grocery Guide for Kidney Health
Low sodium foods
Dried peas Dried beans Apples Oranges Bananas Spinach Carrots Broccoli Garlic Onions Bell peppers Brown rice Wild rice Quinoa Barley Whole grain breads Salmon Tuna Halibut Cod Skinless chicken Lean pork cuts Lean beef cuts Ginger Lemon juice Eggs
Low potassium foods
Vegetarian protein