The holidays are here, and many people have already starting baking cookies and breads for holiday parties or gifts. Here are a few tips for how to enjoy these treats while sticking to your dialysis diet.

• Phosphorus content is higher in cookies made with oatmeal, nuts, peanut butter, and chocolate. Limit portions of these ingredients or avoid them. Ask your renal dietitian if you need to take a phosphorus binder with a cookie snack.
• Potassium content is higher in cookies made with peanut butter, chocolate, raisins and other dried fruit, nuts, molasses, and brown sugar. Be extra cautious with cookies that contain several of these ingredients. 
• Watch for hidden sodium from baking soda, salt, salted butter or margarine, and salted peanut butter. Too much cookie dough or too many cookies contribute to extra sodium intake. Use unsalted ingredients when possible.

Information courtesy of Culinary Kidney Cooks.

This article originally appeared in the December 2009 issue of AAKP Diet Tips & Bits.