Satisfy Your Thirst With These 5 Dialysis-Friendly Summer Snacks

The summer heat can make it more difficult to adhere to your fluid and food restrictions, but these snacks may help you satisfy your cravings.

Before giving these recipes a try, talk with a healthcare provider about your specific nutrition needs—they may vary depending on your dialysis treatment.

Find a registered kidney dietitian. 

Jump to recipes:

1. Cranberry-raspberry gelatin salad
2. Summer fruit slaw
3. Yogurt-covered fruit salad
4. Pear and almond parfait
5. Favorite cranberry salad

Understanding fluids

Beverages and any food that turns to liquid at room temperature are considered a fluid: soups, ice, ice cream, or gelatin desserts count. For many on dialysis, restricting fluid means limiting yourself to three or four 8-ounce cups of liquid a day.

Learn more about dialysis and fluids. 

Quick tips

• The more foods high in salt or sodium you eat, the thirstier you will be. 
• Measure out some of your fluid allowances as ice cubes. Water expands when frozen, so an ice cube is about half the water by volume. One ice cube tray holds about 2 cups of fluid.
• Eat frozen fruits like grapes, blueberries, or strawberries between meals.
• Try freezing fruit juice if ice cubes are too hard for you to chew. Choose 100% juice without any added sugar.

1. Cranberry–raspberry gelatin salad

This cheerful salad looks just as good as it tastes and will be sure to brighten your day. It is suitable for people with diabetes; CKD Stage 1, 2; CKD Stage 3, 4; those on dialysis and CKD 5, and kidney transplant recipients.

Serving size: 1 cup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 1 can of whole cranberry sauce
• ½ cup chopped celery
• 1 box (0.3 oz) raspberry gelatin
• 1 cup ginger ale

Directions:

1. Boil 1 cup of water for gelatin.
2. Mix with 1 can cranberry sauce and pour into a large glass serving bowl.
3. Add 1 cup ginger ale, 1 cup frozen raspberries, and ½ cup chopped celery.
4. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

Get the full recipe, serving size, and nutritional information here.

2. Summer fruit slaw

Break the summer heat with this fresh, fruity summer salad. Crispy and bursting with sweetness, this delightful slaw is appropriate for people with diabetes; CKD Stage 1, 2; CKD Stage 3, 4; those on dialysis and CKD 5, and kidney transplant recipients.

Serving size: ½ cup

Ingredients:

• 1 apple, washed with stems and bottom removed
• 1 crisp pear, washed with stems and bottom removed
• 1 large stalk rhubarb, washed with top and bottom removed
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• ½ cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon honey

Directions:

1. Slice the apples into quarters, cutting around the core and seeds.
2. Then cut those pieces until you have a bunch of thin, apple matchsticks.
3. Repeat with the pears.
4. And finally, cut the rhubarb into quarters, so that each piece is approximately the same length as your apple and pear matchsticks, and cut those pieces into thin matchsticks as well.

Get the full recipe, serving size, and nutritional information here.

3. Yogurt-covered fruit salad

Enjoy this refreshing and easy-to-whip-up fruit salad. After letting this dish chill, people with diabetes; CKD Stage 1, 2; CKD Stage 3, 4; those on dialysis and CKD 5, and kidney transplant recipients can enjoy it.

Serving size: 1/3 cup

Ingredients:

• 1 medium apple with skin
• 10 green grapes
• 4 oz mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained
• ½ cup fresh pineapple chunks
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries, cherry flavored
• 6 oz strawberry flavor Greek yogurt
• 6 large strawberries

Directions:

1. Wash and pat dry the apple, grapes, and strawberries.
2. Chop the apple into bite-size pieces.
3. Slice strawberries.
4. Mix apple, grapes, mandarin oranges, pineapple, dried cranberries, and yogurt together.
5. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
6. Garnish with sliced strawberries and serve.

Get the full recipe, serving size, and nutritional information here.

4. Pear and almond parfait

Did you know that “parfait” means perfect in French? Give this indulgent, layered treat a try and see how it got its name. This parfait is perfect for people with CKD Stage 1, 2; CKD Stage 3, 4; those on dialysis and CKD 5, and kidney transplant recipients.

Serving size: 1 cup

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice milk
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup All-Purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 ripe pears, peeled and diced
• 4 teaspoons sugar-free strawberry jam

Directions:

1. Heat rice milk in a microwaveable bowl for 5 minutes on high
2. Mix the flour and sugar together. Add a few large spoons full of the hot rice milk to the flour and sugar mixture until it becomes a smooth paste.
3. Pour the mixture back into the hot rice milk and stir with a whip.
4. Put the rice milk back into the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
5. Stir the mixture with the whip again, and cook for 1 more minute on high.
6. Remove from the microwave and add the vanilla and almond extract.
7. Pour into a shallow dish and refrigerate until chilled.
8. This can be made up to 2 days ahead of time.

Get the full recipe, serving size, and nutritional information here.

5. Favorite cranberry salad

If you’re craving something that’s sweet and sour, look no further. Our favorite cranberry salad is sure to satisfy and is appropriate for people with diabetes; CKD Stage 1, 2; CKD Stage 3, 4; those on dialysis and CKD 5, and kidney transplant recipients.

Serving size: ½ cup

Ingredients:

• 12-ounce package of fresh cranberries
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2½ pounds red grapes, halved
• 9 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
• 2 cups mini-marshmallows
• 8-ounce tub of lite whipped topping

Directions:

1. In a food processor, grind the cranberries to a fine texture.
2. Place the cranberries in a strainer with the sugar and pineapple.
3. Place the strainer over a bowl, and allow the cranberries to drain in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Discard the juice that drains off.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients to the cranberry mixture and stir.
6. Let the salad chill for up to 4 hours.
7. Serve cold and enjoy!

Get the full recipe, serving size, and nutritional information here.

Share your creations with us!

Have you tried any of these summer snacks? We'd love to see them! Share pictures, let us know how it tastes, and don't forget to tag @nationalkidneyfoundation so we can see it. 

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