Best Foods to Eat With Kidney Cancer

Aim for ½ cup of cooked lentils or beans or 1 ounce of nuts or seeds (roughly a small handful), per serving, says Tallman. Some plant proteins contain more potassium or phosphorus than others, so your care team may recommend certain choices or less frequent servings based on your kidney function and blood levels of these minerals, she notes.

“Canned versions are completely fine and save energy on fatigue days,” says Tierney, but choose low-sodium or no-salt-added options and rinse them before using to remove some of the sodium content. If you have digestive symptoms, well-cooked and slightly mashed versions — think lentil soup — may be easier to tolerate, she notes.

“A cup of fresh or frozen berries, whether on their own or mixed into yogurt or oatmeal, is an easy way to work them in,” says Dr. Ladi.

They also provide folate, a nutrient your body uses to make new cells and to repair them, and vitamin K, which plays an important part in bone health and normal blood clotting, Tierney says.

During treatment, however, cooked vegetables may be easier to tolerate than raw ones. Tierney recommends steaming or roasting them until soft to help reduce gas and bloating; puréeing them into soup is an alternative if your stomach feels unsettled or chewing takes too much effort.

Brown rice and quinoa are other whole-grain options you can rotate into meals for variety, says Ladi.

A serving size is ½ cup of dry oats, which yields about 1 cup cooked, Tierney says, but choose plain oats instead of flavored ones to avoid added sugar and preservatives. If you need more calories and protein, she suggests cooking them in fortified soy milk instead of water, unless your care team has recommended limiting protein. Keep toppings soft, such as mashed banana or nut butter, if mouth sores make eating uncomfortable.

“I usually suggest about 3 to 4 ounces [of fatty fish], a couple of times a week,” says Ladi. “Fresh or frozen works well. If you’re using canned salmon, look for a low-sodium version packed in water rather than oil.”

Ladi suggests one or two eggs is a reasonable serving, but check with your care team about the amount of protein that’s recommended for you.

For other lean protein options, Ladi recommends skinless chicken or turkey, about 3 ounces, baked or roasted rather than fried.

Pour it over oatmeal, blend it into smoothies, use it as a soup base, or drink it on its own. Tierney recommends choosing an unsweetened, fortified option.