We’re here to help you delay dialysis. Worsening kidneys are scary. But the good news is that when changes are made early, CKD progression can be slowed and even halted. It’s all about changing your diet.

1. Renal Diet 101
Pizza
RenalTracker Behavior change to help patients delay dialysis

2. i
We are
RenalTracker
We’re here to help you delay dialysis.
Worsening kidneys are scary. But the good news is
that when changes are made early, CKD progression
can be slowed and even halted.
It’s all about changing your diet.
This program won the 2019 KidneyX Redesign Dialysis Prize,
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Office of the Chief Technology Officer and the
American Society of Nephrology.
KidneyX awards innovative medical breakthroughs that improve
patients’ quality of life, reduce disease and treatment
complica- tions, and minimize burden on the family and care
partner(s).

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Renal Diet 101: Pizza
Renal Diet 101: Pizza
Most people, if not everyone, can’t deny having tasted at least a single
slice of pizza.
The sight and aroma of the combination of cheese, bell pepper, tomatoes,
and other choice ingredients on top of a circular flatbread, baked to
goodness, is enough to make some stomachs growl in anticipation.
Truth be told, pizza has gone through a lot of changes and variations ever
since it was first created in that, one can say, “there is a flavor of pizza for
everyone.”
But for someone with a kidney condition and on a renal diet, can pizza
still be a food option?
A Brief History of the Flatbread
Modern day pizza, or the beginnings of it, started in Naples, Italy. This
was based on the Greeks’ way of using bread for relishes. This was
refined even further by Romans, where they used a sheet of fine flour,
topped with cheese, honey, and bay leaves. Neapolitans also added
tomatoes to the recipe.
However, it wasn’t until 1889 that cheeses became an official part of the
pizza recipe. This was due to the Royal Palace’s request to Raffaele
Esposito, a Neapolitan pizzaiolo, that he make a pizza for Queen
Margherita’s visit. The result is a pizza greatly favored by the Queen,
bearing the colors of Italy -- with basil (for green), mozzarella (for
white), and tomatoes (for red).
Ever since then, pizza has gone through so many variations, especially
when it was adopted as a beloved snack by the Americans. Some
common types and flavors of pizza are the following:
• Pizza Margherita (authentic Neapolitan pizza)
• Pepperoni (most common topping in America)
• Hawaiian (pizza with pineapple chunks)

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• Meat-lover’s

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Renal Diet 101: Pizza
The (Nutrition) Facts
Unfortunately, for someone with CKD, pizza has a great amount of
SPPP in it. Even if we look individually at a few of its most common
ingredients, the numbers don’t look good.
INGREDIENT SODIUM PROTEIN POTASSIUM PHOSPHORUS
Black Olives 735 mg 0.84 g 8 mg 3 mg
Mozzarella cheese 486 mg 22.17 g 76 mg 354 mg
Pepperoni 1582 mg 19.25 g 274 mg 158 mg
Tomatoes 5 mg 0.88 g 237 mg 24 mg
*USDA Values per 100 grams
And that’s just 4 of the most common ingredients. This doesn’t even
include the components used to make the bread itself, and the amount of
salt needed to season the whole dish.
It’s unfortunate, really, but if you want to slow down your kidney
deterioration, pizzas are a no-no for you.
Pizza Alternatives
The good news is, you can try and cook your own version of pizza at
home. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when making
homemade pizza:
• Choose low-potassium toppings like green peppers, leeks, onions,
and/or pineapples.
• Fresh meat toppings like chicken, beef, and some fish have
lower sodium content compared to pepperoni, bacon, ham, and
such.
• Avoid extra cheese toppings.
• As an alternative to tomatoes, try using garlic or pesto.

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Low-protein recipe
Cold Veggie Pizza Snack
Makes 20 servings
Sodium 228 mg
Protein 3 g
Potassium 90 mg
Phosphorus 53 mg
Calcium 19 mg
Calories 128 kcal
Fat 9 g
Water 10 g
Carbohydrates 11 g

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Cold Veggie Pizza Snack
Ingredients Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a
13” x 9” x 2” baking pan with nonstick
cooking spray.
2. Roll out both packs of
crescent rolls onto the baking
pan, forming into a single flat
dough surface. Bake 10 to 15
minutes. Let stand until cool, 10
to 15 minutes.
3. In a bowl, beat cream cheese
and sour cream until smooth. Stir
in the ranch dressing and garlic
powder. Spread the mixture
evenly over the crust.
4. Chop broccoli, cucumber and
onion. Slice cherry tomatoes in
half.
5.Arrange chopped vegetables
on top of cream cheese
mixture.
6. Cover pizza with plastic wrap
and refrigerate until serving time.
Slice 4 even vertical cuts and 5
horizontal cuts for 20 pieces.
QTY UNIT FOOD ITEM
1) 16 oz crescent roll
dough
2) 1/2 cup sour cream
3) 1 cup
whipped cream
cheese
4) 2 tbsp
low-fat Ranch
salad dressing
5) 1/4 tsp garlic powder
6) 1 cup broccoli florets
7) 1/2 pc
cucumber
(medium)
8) 1/2 cup red onion
9) 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

8. Renal Diet 101: Pizza
Here’s your next step...
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