Renal diet meal plan, moderate and steady.
For chronic kidney disease not on dialysis, the work is sodium, moderate protein and fewer phosphate additives. Here is a week at about 1,700 calories a day, plus what to buy. Alma can fit it to your goal.
Built from KDOQI and NKF kidney advice.
The rules
Three habits do most of the work
Sodium first
Keep sodium under 2,300 mg a day, and lower if your team says so.
Protein in the middle
For stable CKD not on dialysis, often 0.55 to 0.8 g per kg. Your care team sets it.
Watch phosphate additives
Colas, processed cheese and packaged foods often add phosphate.
Sample week
Seven days of kidney-friendly meals
About 1,630 to 1,770 calories and 48 to 52 g of protein a day. Scale portions to your needs. Find your number
Sodium, protein, potassium and phosphorus limits depend on your stage and labs, so set them with a renal dietitian. This week is not for dialysis, where protein needs are higher.
Day 1Monday
BreakfastOatmeal with apple and cinnamon½ cup dry oats cooked in water, ¼ cup 2% milk, 1 small apple, 2 tsp honey, cinnamon
LunchChicken pasta salad1.5 oz chicken breast, ¾ cup cooked pasta, 1 tbsp olive oil, cucumber, ½ cup bell pepper, lemon, 1 small apple
SnackRice cakes with cream cheese and pineapple4 rice cakes, 1 tbsp cream cheese, 1 tbsp jam, ½ cup pineapple
DinnerChicken and rice with roasted peppers1.5 oz chicken breast, 1½ cups cooked white rice, ½ cup roasted bell peppers, 2 tbsp olive oil, herbs
About 1,660 kcal51 g protein20 g fiber
Day 2Tuesday
- BreakfastCream of wheat with blueberries1 cup cooked cream of wheat, ¼ cup 2% milk, ½ cup blueberries, 2 tsp honey, 1 tsp butter
- LunchEgg salad on white bread1 egg, 1 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 slices white bread, lettuce, ½ cup grapes
- SnackGraham crackers with applesauce4 graham crackers, ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, ½ cup grapes
- DinnerBaked cod with rice and green beans2 oz cod, 1½ cups cooked white rice, 1 cup green beans, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 white roll
About 1,740 kcal48 g protein13 g fiber
Day 3Wednesday
- BreakfastToast with jam and an egg1 egg, 2 slices white toast, 1 tsp butter, 1 tbsp jam, ½ cup grapes
- LunchChicken and noodles1 oz chicken breast, ½ cup cooked egg noodles, 1 cup green beans, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 small apple
- SnackPineapple and rice cakes1 cup pineapple chunks, 4 rice cakes, 2 tsp honey
- DinnerRice with chicken and cauliflower1.5 oz chicken breast, 1¼ cups cooked white rice, 1 cup cauliflower, 2 tbsp olive oil, ½ cup grapes
About 1,770 kcal51 g protein17 g fiber
Day 4Thursday
- BreakfastEnglish muffin with egg and jam1 white English muffin, 1 egg, 1 tsp butter, 1 tbsp jam, ½ cup strawberries
- LunchTuna pasta salad1 oz tuna, ¾ cup cooked pasta, 2 tsp mayonnaise, cucumber, lemon, ½ cup grapes, 1 tbsp olive oil
- SnackPear and pineapple with rice cakes1 small pear, ½ cup pineapple, 4 rice cakes, 1 tbsp jam
- DinnerChicken with rice and zucchini1.5 oz chicken breast, 1¼ cups cooked white rice, ½ cup zucchini, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 white roll
About 1,760 kcal51 g protein16 g fiber
Day 5Friday
- BreakfastFrench toast with strawberries2 slices white bread dipped in 1 egg and ¼ cup 2% milk, 1 tsp butter, 1 tbsp maple syrup, ½ cup strawberries
- LunchGrilled cheese with grapes and pineapple2 slices white bread, ½ oz cheddar, 2 tsp butter, ½ cup grapes, ½ cup pineapple
- SnackRice cakes with jam and pineapple4 rice cakes, 1 tbsp jam, 1 cup pineapple, 1 cup air-popped popcorn with 1 tsp olive oil
- DinnerBaked chicken with pasta and green beans1.5 oz chicken breast, 1 cup cooked pasta, 1 cup green beans, 2 tbsp olive oil
About 1,630 kcal52 g protein17 g fiber
Day 6Saturday
- BreakfastOatmeal with blueberries½ cup dry oats cooked in water, ½ cup blueberries, 2 tsp honey, ½ cup applesauce
- LunchTurkey sandwich with cucumber1.5 oz turkey breast, 2 slices white bread, 1 tsp mustard, 2 tsp mayonnaise, lettuce, cucumber, 1 small apple, ½ cup grapes
- SnackGraham crackers and apple4 graham crackers, ½ apple, 1 tbsp jam, 1 cup air-popped popcorn with 1 tsp olive oil
- DinnerPepper steak with rice2 oz beef sirloin, 1½ cups cooked white rice, ½ cup bell peppers, 1 tbsp olive oil
About 1,640 kcal51 g protein19 g fiber
Day 7Sunday
- BreakfastPancakes with strawberries2 small pancakes, 1 tbsp maple syrup, ½ cup strawberries, 1 tsp butter
- LunchChicken and rice salad with a roll1.5 oz chicken breast, 1 cup cooked white rice, cucumber, ½ cup peppers, 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon
- SnackGraham crackers with pineapple4 graham crackers, 1 cup pineapple chunks, 2 tsp honey
- DinnerPasta with chicken and peppers1.5 oz chicken breast, 1 cup cooked pasta, ½ cup bell peppers, 2 tbsp olive oil
About 1,720 kcal50 g protein12 g fiber
Shopping list
What to buy
Most days
Eggs and chickenEggs, chicken breast and thighs, small portions of fisheggchicken breast
- Small dairyA little cheddar, cream cheese or milk. Dairy has natural phosphorus
Now and then
Potassium limits apply only if your blood level is high. Ask your dietitian about portions.
Make it yours
This week is a sample. Alma builds yours.
- Meals fit to your goal and the foods you like
- Log a meal by photo, voice or text in about 10 seconds
- Every meal gets an Alma Score from 0 to 100
Questions
What people ask
What is a renal diet?
It is an eating pattern for chronic kidney disease that eases the work your kidneys do: less sodium, a moderate amount of protein, and fewer phosphate additives. Limits are set from your stage, labs and medicines. NIDDK says there is no single meal plan for everyone with CKD.
How much protein should I eat with CKD?
The 2020 KDOQI guideline suggests 0.55 to 0.60 g of protein per kg of body weight for stable adults with CKD stages 3 to 5 not on dialysis, or 0.6 to 0.8 g per kg with diabetes, under close supervision. People on dialysis need more protein. This week averages about 50 g a day, an example for an average-size adult and not a target for everyone. Your care team or renal dietitian sets your number.
How much sodium can I have with kidney disease?
NIDDK points to the 2,300 mg a day limit from the Dietary Guidelines, and notes that many people with CKD need less. Most of the sodium in a typical day comes from packaged foods, so cooking fresh chicken, rice, pasta and vegetables is the biggest lever.
Do I have to limit potassium on a renal diet?
Only if your blood potassium is high. NIDDK says to work with your care team on the right amount, and to limit serving sizes of high potassium foods and skip salt substitutes if your level runs high. This week keeps to moderate potassium foods either way.
Why avoid cola and processed cheese?
They often carry phosphate additives, which damaged kidneys clear less well. NIDDK points to phosphorus additives in processed foods. Checking labels for phos in the ingredient list is the practical move, along with fresh chicken, eggs and rice.
How many calories is this meal plan?
About 1,630 to 1,770 calories a day, with 48 to 52 grams of protein and 12 to 20 grams of fiber. Olive oil, rice, pasta and low potassium fruit fill the calories while protein stays small. Scale portions to your size and activity. The calorie calculator gives you a starting number.
How does Alma help with a renal diet?
Log a meal by photo, voice or text in about 10 seconds, and every meal gets an Alma Score from 0 to 100, built on Harvard’s Alternate Healthy Eating Index. Alma can build a plan around your goal and the foods you like, so the sodium you keep an eye on is easier to see.
Sources
Written by Alma from the sources below and reviewed October 28, 2026. Calories and protein are estimates. This is general information, not medical advice. If you manage a health condition or take medication, check changes with your clinician. Editorial standards
- NIDDK: Healthy eating for adults with chronic kidney disease
- KDOQI clinical practice guideline for nutrition in CKD: 2020 update (PubMed)
- National Kidney Foundation: Phosphorus and your CKD diet
- National Kidney Foundation: Nutrition and kidney disease, stages 1 to 5
- USDA FoodData Central, for calorie and protein estimates
Get a week built around you.
Tell Alma your goal and the foods you like. It plans the meals and scores each one.