Recipes/Cookbooks for Renal Diets

[Personal Chef]

I'm cooking for a new client who is on dialysis and chemo. His dietician is helping me with his menu. I like to have as many opinions as possible when I'm trying something new. I'm using recipes from Cooking for David; The Renal Gourmet was recommended and ikidney.com. The dietician states from his labs the client is not eating. Client told me nothing tastes good. If you're willing, please recommend recipes, books, sites, and relay your experiences on preparing food for a renal diet. Thanks so much!!:D

[RobinC]

What are the important nutritional considerations for a renal diet? I am guessing the all protein/meat diet would be very bad.

[Personal Chef]

Little to no sodium; very limited potassium and phosphorous. The diet is not a fun one so take care of your kidneys. You basically can have little/no fresh fruit or vegetables. Believe it or not frozen is better--something about them being cooked takes out the phosphorous/potassium and then when you cook them more phosphorous/potassium.

[Beth]

I'd like to help you with the diet question, but not sure I am quaulified on that one. I will let you know if I think of something, but how much does the chemo have to do with taste? And is he on any medication that alters the taste of food. My mom was in the hospital last summer. She consistently complained about the food, and it was assumed to be the bland diet. Turns out, just before moved her toward a normal diet, one of the nurses told her that one of her medications gave food a metallic taste and that it would go away after she quit the medication and it was out of her system. Even though the taste sisn't go away immediately, knowing there was an explanation made it easier for her to tolerate the food and move on. Just a possibility.

Good luck to all three of you!