BBQ and Kidney Disease

[Lew Newby]

A few months ago my 80 year old wife was diagnosed with stage 3 Kidney Disease. Several years ago I picked up all of the cooking and I've been reading everything I can trying to get a handle on what to cook. I found a Kidney friendly website, Davita.com, and their recipes taste darn good. That's all kitchen cooking. BBQ meat has to be limited but I still do a little for her mental health. If anyone else is dealing with this, what do you cook on your grill or smoker? TIA

 

[JKalchik]

[Insulin dependent diabetic] This sort of thing scares me, as I've only got 2 kidneys, and can't afford really to lose either of them.

Right now, aside from a somewhat low carb diet for me, and a high fiber and weight loss diet for my g/f (2x cancer survivor,) we pretty much cook whatever fits into those guidelines. I absolutely adore a big plate of pasta, my blood sugar meter says ya'll shouldn't be doin' that. A big steak and baked potato doesn't fit into my g/f's guidelines. Sometimes, it's a balancing act of what do we want to eat. Some times, sacrifices have to be made. As an example, I've discovered that the shelf stable riced cauliflower I can get at Costco actually does make a pretty good pork fried rice dinner for two without leftovers (those go into the pork fried rice, leftover smoked pork tenderloin.)

I've been riding the low carb (okay, for a long time, not low enough,) guidelines for better than a couple of decades now. It gets old in a big hurry, you'll have to learn what & when to substitute.

Go take care of your wife, please.

 

[Lew Newby]

[Insulin dependent diabetic] This sort of thing scares me, as I've only got 2 kidneys, and can't afford really to lose either of them.

Right now, aside from a somewhat low carb diet for me, and a high fiber and weight loss diet for my g/f (2x cancer survivor,) we pretty much cook whatever fits into those guidelines. I absolutely adore a big plate of pasta, my blood sugar meter says ya'll shouldn't be doin' that. A big steak and baked potato doesn't fit into my g/f's guidelines. Sometimes, it's a balancing act of what do we want to eat. Some times, sacrifices have to be made. As an example, I've discovered that the shelf stable riced cauliflower I can get at Costco actually does make a pretty good pork fried rice dinner for two without leftovers (those go into the pork fried rice, leftover smoked pork tenderloin.)

I've been riding the low carb (okay, for a long time, not low enough,) guidelines for better than a couple of decades now. It gets old in a big hurry, you'll have to learn what & when to substitute.

Go take care of your wife, please.

I've been dating that girl for 64 years and I'm doing whatever it takes to keep her around. Her weight is excellent, her blood sugar is well controlled with diet, and 1 med, and we're going to deal with this next challenge. I haven't cooked a lot of vegetables on the grill but I'm wondering if it would be a change of pace she would like. I might start with Chicken Kabobs to see if she likes that. A little meat and a lot of vegetables.

 

[JKalchik]

Oh, man, you've never grilled vege????? You're in for a surprise. I grill cauliflower, romaine hearts, zucchini, summer squash, I've been known to grill peppers.... lot of options out there. Usually just a little olive oil, salt and pepper, but season them up with whatever lifts your skirts.

I've been meaning to make smoked mushroom caps, just have not gotten around to that yet.

 

[C Lewis]

I don't have any info for you Lew, but will keep you and your wife in my prayers. I can though, share a potentially inspirational story about an Aunt of mine. My Aunt, my Mom's sister, was born with kidney disease, and had one kidney removed around her 30's. Near her 40's, the second kidney started to fail, and my Mother donated one of hers to save the life of her sister. The match was beyond perfect, and although the kidney transplant was given a 10 year life span, it has been over 40 years now and my Aunt's donated kidney is still going. She is currently in a nursing home, suffering from Alzheimer's and heart disease, and has even had and beaten Covid, and even though the kidney is in its last stages, it is still working. A true miracle that really makes you stop and realize that there is someone up above watching for sure. She has, of course, been on dialysis for most of her life, but the gift from my Mom gave her an extra 40+ years. We have always joked that she will outlive all of us, and it's really beginning to look that way!

Charlie

 

[Bob Bailey]

I've been dating that girl for 64 years and I'm doing whatever it takes to keep her around. Her weight is excellent, her blood sugar is well controlled with diet, and 1 med, and we're going to deal with this next challenge. I haven't cooked a lot of vegetables on the grill but I'm wondering if it would be a change of pace she would like. I might start with Chicken Kabobs to see if she likes that. A little meat and a lot of vegetables.

My youngest daughter seldom eats red meat and gets tired of fish and poultry as a steady diet. She loves my house BBQ sauce and tells me it's great on a grilled cauliflower. Haven't tried it myself, but guessing it's be worth a try. For a head of cauliflower and a little of your favorite BBQ sauce, it's worth a shot.

 

[Lew Newby]

My youngest daughter seldom eats red meat and gets tired of fish and poultry as a steady diet. She loves my house BBQ sauce and tells me it's great on a grilled cauliflower. Haven't tried it myself, but guessing it's be worth a try. For a head of cauliflower and a little of your favorite BBQ sauce, it's worth a shot.

We like Cauliflower and most veggies except squash. JKalchik reminded me that I want to do some Portobello Mushrooms on the grill. I've been doing a lot of first time cooks and it looks like that will continue for a while.

 

[JKalchik]

Something else, Lew...... get yourself a grill pan. Most grates aren't real friendly to grilling veg, especially thinly sliced. Grill pans are more or less perforated sheet pans. Give your sliced veg a light oil coating with seasoning, and throw them on a hot grill pan.

 

[Lew Newby]

Oh, man, you've never grilled vege????? You're in for a surprise. I grill cauliflower, romaine hearts, zucchini, summer squash, I've been known to grill peppers.... lot of options out there. Usually just a little olive oil, salt and pepper, but season them up with whatever lifts your skirts.

I've been meaning to make smoked mushroom caps, just have not gotten around to that yet.

My wife is very interested in this and the Cauliflower really got her attention. Do you grill the intact head or break it up and do it on a mat?

 

[JKalchik]

You can slice cauliflower heads into slabs and grill them like steaks. I cut the florets off and grill them.

 

[Lew Newby]

Something else, Lew...... get yourself a grill pan. Most grates aren't real friendly to grilling veg, especially thinly sliced. Grill pans are more or less perforated sheet pans. Give your sliced veg a light oil coating with seasoning, and throw them on a hot grill pan.

That's really helpful. I'm starting from zero. Weber has a stainless pan at a competitive price. Any recommendation?

 

[Richard in NS]

Something else, Lew...... get yourself a grill pan. Most grates aren't real friendly to grilling veg, especially thinly sliced. Grill pans are more or less perforated sheet pans. Give your sliced veg a light oil coating with seasoning, and throw them on a hot grill pan.

I will second J’s suggestion on a grill pan. If you can spare the extra $ get a Weber with the slits Instead of one with round holes. Stuff gets caught in the holes which doesn’t happen with the Weber. All the best to your wife Lew.

 

[GrantT]

Easier to paste than type...

16 Healthy Grilling Recipes for People with Kidney Disease

Are you looking for different ways to cook recipes when you have kidney disease? Look no further than grilling. Here are 16 healthy grilling recipes for people with kidney disease. From beef and poultry to fruits and vegetables, kidney-friendly foods can be cooked on the grill and enjoyed by the...

www.davita.com

https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/01-65-6991_DBF_KidneyLiving11.pdf

 

[JKalchik]

Richard has the same grill pan I have, and his comments are spot on.

 

[Michael Richards]

Lew,
You sound like an amazing husband! You and Your wife are in my thoughts. I love Richard's photo, it looks close to my grill basket s few nights a week. I don't have much insight on supporting a loved one with kidney disease, but my oldest daughter has moved to eating less meat. She loves every veggie thrown onto the grill. Carrots with broc and cauliflower is a favorite or one of those by themselves. Sugar snap peas, snow peas, or fresh green beans are amazing. Butternut squash, and zucchini are also amazing. Asparagus and sprouts also get eaten up. I think I like veggies as much as the meats. Good luck learned to keep being the great husband you are.
Michael

 

[Tim Snyder]

My favorite vegetables on the grill are kabobs. Throw your chunky vegetables in a bowl, add olive oil and all your favorite seasonings, skewer on bamboo. For something easy, any "Country Style" frozen vegetables in the Weber stainless basket are excellent. I make a sauce with butter, olive oil, crushed garlic and spices, toss together in a bowl after grilling.

 

[Tim Snyder]

Fruit on the grill is also delicious. I've grilled stuffed apples, grapefruit, pineapple, peaches, and mangos.

 

[Lew Newby]

Thanks for all your help. I’m getting that Weber pan and some skewers. Gonna have some fun.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

I do more grilled vegetables than I used to, carrots are fun, cauliflower is wonderful, toss with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil
I used to do a grilled ratatouille (Bobby Flay recipe) have not done that in a couple of years, need to do it again.
Grilled tomato soup, I line a sheet pan with foil throw a load of halved Roma tomatoes and a handful of garlic cloves, salt and pepper drizzle evoo, grill until just a bit charred, slide the whole sheet pan load including oil into a food processor and blitz until desired smoothness, drop in some fresh basil, serve with some grilled baguette kisses will follow!

 

[LMichaels]

I do plenty of veg on my grills. No real "recipes" though. However not to change subject or steal thread. Speaking to the Stage 3 KD. I too was diagnosed with this (thanks to the damage done by Metformin). I did some reading on Mayo Clinic site (IIRC), noting the recommendation of 8 glasses of water a day may be FAR too low for some. Using their methodology I changed my water intake from 8 10oz glasses to 14 minimum. I will admit many days go by and I cannot consume all 14. Some days I am at 16 or even more. Bottom line at my most recent checkup at the endocrinologist I see for diabetes. (He was who noted the metformin was responsible for the damage and got me off of it pronto but he said the damage was done) Anyway on this last checkup he looked at me and said "I don't know how you did it but your kidney functions are now in normal range". I told him about the increase in water intake and he said "keep it up"