This article was written by dietetic student Maria Vargas Guzman & reviewed by Melanie Betz MS, RD, CSR, CSG.
You may be feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by finding a healthy diet for kidney disease – especially low potassium desserts! What’s life without chocolate milk and banana pudding?
It is important to know you can still enjoy these high potassium foods and be good to your kidneys. The key is how often you eat these foods and portion size. Keep reading to learn more about kidney disease, and our favorite low potassium dessert ideas.
*Please note that this post contains clearly identified affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).
Table of Contents
Wait, Why is Potassium Even Important?
Potassium is one of the most important minerals in our bodies. This essential mineral keeps blood pressure in the right range, heartbeat steady and muscles healthy.
Your body can’t make potassium, so we rely on our diet for potassium to regulate nerve function and muscle contraction. Potassium is found in many fruits, vegetables, seeds, dairy products, and YES, chocolate (HA!). (1)
Can you get potassium from dietary supplements? Yes, you can. However, it is not recommended to rely on supplements. Following a healthy diet can provide you with all the nutrition you need, including potassium!
Why Do Some People Need Low Potassium Desserts?
As you might know, the main function of your kidneys is to remove excess fluid and waste products from your blood. In addition, your kidneys keep electrolytes, such as sodium, phosphate, and potassium at stable levels.
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a decreased kidney function. Consequently, your kidneys are sometimes unable to remove potassium as well as they should. If your kidneys can’t remove excess potassium, potassium can build up in your body and cause harm. High levels of potassium in your blood, also called hyperkalemia, can cause fatigue and nausea. In extreme cases, hyperkalemia can lead to a cardiac arrest, meaning that your heart stops beating. (2)
Most people don’t experience any symptoms from hyperkalemia. However, symptoms may include:
- Weakness or tiredness
- Numbness or tingling
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and fatigue
It is VERY important to know that not everyone with CKD has to follow a low potassium diet or choose low potassium desserts. Your doctor will check your potassium levels with a simple blood test. Your doctor and dietitian will work together to determine how much potassium you should eat each day – always taking your food preferences, eating patterns, culture, and overall nutrition into consideration!
High Potassium Desserts to Limit
Just like the heading suggests, limit these high potassium desserts if your blood potassium is high. It doesn’t mean you can’t have them sometimes. If you need to limit potassium, choose low potassium desserts (ideas below!) more often. Or, enjoy these high potassium desserts in very small portions.
Chocolate
Even though chocolate is delicious and has some health benefits, it is a very high potassium food. A small (2.6 ounce) bar of dark chocolate bar contains around 360mg of potassium. White and milk chocolate tend to have less potassium.
Dairy Ice Cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream? We all do. However, dairy can pack a lot of potassium. Potassium amount varies by ice cream flavor. A 1/2 cup of regular vanilla ice cream contains only 131mg of potassium. But, a 1/2 cup of chocolate or butter pecan has closer to 170g.
Tip: Sherbet is a great low potassium dessert swap for ice cream. A 1/2 cup contains around 70 mg of potassium.
Nut Desserts
Nut desserts, such as pecan pie can add a lot of extra potassium to your day. Most of nuts are high in potassium, specifically pecans. 1 slice (133g) of pecan pie has 162mg of potassium.
Banana Pudding
As you might already know, bananas are really high in potassium. Banana flavored pudding only has about 70mg of potassium. But fancy banana pudding with actual bananas could add an additional 100-150mg per serving.
If you want to learn more about which foods are high in potassium and which one are low, check my PDF Potassium Food List and this post to learn more about ways to reduce potassium intake.
Sugar in Low Potassium Desserts
Of course, even low potassium desserts can have a lot of added sugar. Eating too much sugar, especially if you have diabetes, can increase blood sugar and damage kidneys. Lots of added sugar can also harm your heart.
The American Heart Association recommends that men limit added sugar to 36 grams per day. And, that women limit it to 25 grams each day. (3)
However, some sweet desserts can absolutely fit in this sugar limit! It is completely OK to have desserts on occasion.
Work with your dietitian to know how much sugar is right for you!
Top 5 Easy Low Potassium Desserts
NO NEED TO GIVE UP SWEETS! Yes, even on a low potassium or kidney friendly diet.
The good news is there are plenty of delicious sweet, low potassium desserts you can enjoy!
Here are my favorite quick low potassium desserts:
Animal Crackers*
These fun and delicious crackers are made of enriched flour, sugar, canola oil, baking soda, salt, and artificial flavors. All these ingredients are considered low potassium foods.
One ounce (about 11 crackers) only has 28mg of potassium.
Rice Krispie Treats*
Very cheap and made of toasted rice cereal and sugar. One treat only has 9mg of potassium! Make them at home, or the store-bought treats* are phosphorus additive free!
Sherbet
A 1/2 cup of sherbet only has 40-70mg of potassium – depending on the flavor!
Twizzlers Cherry Bites*
So fun and delicious! 18 pieces have only 6 mg of potassium.
Strawberries and Whipped Cream
You can always buy some strawberries and add some whipped cream. A 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries with 2 tablespoons of whipped cream has about 80mg of potassium. Top it with some fresh mint leaves to make this low potassium dessert extra fancy. Very delicious and refreshing!
Feeling Creative? Try These Low Potassium Dessert Recipes
Low Sugar Apple Crumble
Watermelon Lime Sorbet
I love seeing your posts pop into my email. Please add some more low potassium recipes for main dishes. Thank you.
You can find all of my recipes here!
Recently diagnosed with high potassium levels. Will follow your site to learn what to avoid, what to eat
Great! I’m glad you’ve found me.
My potassium 5.4
Calcium is 10.5
I have high cholesterol — border line
I received a calcium infusion of Reclast in May and also taking 600 of calcium
I want to follow the guide lines for high potassium — just asking what are the best foods to eat — I know beans, potatoes, (white and sweet) are not good. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know.
thank, Bev
Hi Bev! I’d check out this article about potassium – a “low potassium diet” isn’t nearly as restrictive as we once thought it was. I can’t say what is best for you without a more complete review of your medical history. I’d highly recommend asking for a kidney dietitian referral to know what foods are best for you!
I just LOVE your roasted red pepper sauce recipe and use it in lots of ways. Tonight I made turkey chili, added the roasted red pepper sauce and served it on top of toasted buttered English muffins. Yum! And it’s low in potassium which is helpful for my husband. I didn’t have any fresh lemons or fresh basil, but the sauce was still delicious.
Yum! That sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing. I’m SO glad you find it tasty and it is helping you and your husband!
I have calcium oxalate stones. You have helped me so much!! I don’t think my potassium is high. Should I be watching that? My 24 hr was mainly high (mid 60’s)in oxalate.
Thank you so much! Potassium is really only an issue for people with advanced kidney disease. A HIGH potassium diet is actually good for people with kidney stones or early stages of kidney disease.
I have just be diagnosed with 3rd stage CKD. I really need help! Potassum levels and blood pressure are two other issues I am facing
I am not sure of what to eat and I can’t get to see a nephologist until the end of July. Can I eat.
Oatl?
meat? If so what kind?
Pudding?
Whipped Cream with berries?
My blood pressure is averaging 123/56 – to 135/63? Is that Good or bad?
I know I am supposed to eat but what?
Hi Naomi- I’m so glad you’ve found my site! I hope it gives you some good direction as you figure out what is best for you to eat. I can’t provide individual nutrition advice, but this overview article might be helpful. I also have a list of other renal dietitians who work with patients individually that might be helpful!
Please tell me about the amount of phosphorus in sherbet and in ice cream. Thank you. I appreciate and use your articles.
Because sherbet has much less dairy in it than ice cream, it is also going to be lower in phosphorus. A 1/2 cup of sherbet only has about 30mg phosphorus in it. Whereas a 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream has more like 70mg of phosphorus. Phosphorus from dairy is pretty well absorbed in our bodies, so this is an important point! Of course, always check whatever product you buy for phosphorus additives no matter what!
Thank you. In a perfect world, there would be no CKD, but in a closer to perfect world, labels would have the amount of phosphorus listed! My husband is down to a GFR of 9, so we are being careful of every mg.! No dialysis yet!
Haha. Absolutely agree!
Amen. As a CKD patient, I find this site and others like it to be very helpful. However, one of my biggest frustrations is the dearth of information about phosphorus and phosphate additives in foods. I hope some day soon the FDA figures out the importance of phosphates in foods and begins requiring it to be included in their food component lists and nutrient labels . Until then, I guess we’ll just have to struggle. I wish your husband the best on his journey to good health.