Who doesn't love desserts?

They're the most perfect way to end a full-course meal. Desserts are also a really common way to cool down, when the summers are hot. 

Problem is, being a CKD patient kinda limits your choices for dessert. Most tasty desserts, like ice cream or yoghurt, are rich in potassium and phosphorus. 

Choosing which dessert to have can be difficult, especially when you're eating out.

So, here are some advice that the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) can give you when choosing renal dessert options for your kidney disease: 

How to Pick Your Desserts When Eating Out

1. When in doubt, ask.

Often, desserts with elaborate preparations have hidden potassium and phosphorus in them due to certain ingredients that may have been added. 

To be sure, ask for a clear description of the desserts in their menu, and choose the ones with simple preparations.

It also wouldn't hurt if you inform the management of your kidney condition. Some restaurants do cater to the needs of CKD patients and will gladly make adjustments to your food.

2. Learn to share, minimize, or entirely avoid certain desserts.

A not-so-fun fact: desserts with chocolate, cream cheese, ice cream, or nuts carry high amounts of potassium and phosphorus. According to the USDA Nutrient Database:

Friendly advice: if there are no other choices, you can either eat a small amount, share it with somebody, or just avoid it altogether.

3. Be careful with desserts that add to your daily fluid intake.

We recommend that you consult your doctor about establishing your fluid limits, if you haven't already, and talk about how much of these desserts you should take in.

4. Be careful with sweets.

It's not just your SPPP (sodium, protein, potassium, and phosphorus) that you should watch out for. You should also be careful with your sugar and carbohydrate intake, especially from sweets.

Advice: always consult your doctor or dietitian. They are more familiar with your specific needs.

Now you might be thinking: So, which desserts are good for me? And which other desserts should I avoid?

Good vs Poor Dessert Choices

To make this more direct and easier to understand, here's a long table of the good dessert choices versus the poor ones. Enjoy!

Hopefully, this helps you decide which desserts to make at home, or order in a restaurant next time you eat out.

If you like, you may check out our own dessert recipes below:

• Apple Muffins
• Blueberry Muffins
• Cornbread Muffins
• Cranberry Muffins
• Gingerbread Muffins
• Raspberry Streusel Muffins
• Strawberry Sorbet

The Bottomline

Having CKD doesn't mean you won't be able to enjoy eating anymore. Sure, you might be limited in your choices, but if you know where to find them, there are great choices all around.