19/12/2025
Worried Christmas dinner will undo all your hard work with CKD? 😅
Here’s the reassuring truth: one Christmas Day meal will not make or break your kidney health. Enjoying a special meal with people you care about is important too. On Christmas Day, most people with CKD can relax and eat what they want without guilt.
There is one key exception:
👉 If you’ve been advised to follow a low potassium diet, it’s still important to be mindful, even on Christmas Day, as large portions of high-potassium foods can raise your potassium levels.
You can absolutely have a traditional Christmas dinner and keep potassium in check with a few simple swaps:
✅ Enjoy a palm-sized portion of roast turkey or chicken
✅ Potatoes: keep portions modest, cut small, parboil, drain well, then roast – this helps lower potassium.
✅ Choose roasted carrots and red cabbage rather than parsnips or Brussels sprouts.
✅ Stuffing: homemade is best – breadcrumbs, onion, butter, sage and pepper. Go easy on dried fruit and chestnuts.
✅ Opt for trifle or pavlova instead of shop-bought Christmas pudding or chocolate yule log.
✅ Enjoy mince pies as mini versions or kidney-friendlier homemade ones.
If you don’t need a low potassium diet → focus on enjoying the day, eating to comfort, and going back to your usual pattern afterwards.
Want calm, practical tips for the whole festive period – not just the main meal? Comment “CHRISTMAS” below and we’ll send you our CKD Christmas Survival Guide.
This advice is primarily for individuals with CKD Stages 3 & 4. It is solely educational and provides general advice only. It is not a substitute for seeing a registered dietitian or another qualified healthcare professional.
