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Kidney-Friendly Halloween Treats
Ghosts, goblins, ghouls and candy! The first thing that comes to mind when I think about Halloween is all the candy. If you are following a kidney-friendly diet, then you might be wondering what candy you can eat. Read on to see which candies and treats are better in terms of phosphorus and potassium, and which ones you should limit or avoid.
The main ingredient in candy is sugar. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting calories from sugar to no more than 10% daily. That’s about 12 teaspoons or 200 calories for a 2,000 calorie diet. The American Heart Association recommends a stricter limit of 100 calories or 6 teaspoons sugar for women and 9 teaspoons sugar or 150 calories for men. For people with diabetes, sugar may be even more limited to help manage blood sugar levels. Keep these recommendations in mind when planning candy into your diet.
These candies are considered kidney-friendly because they are low in phosphorus and potassium, as most people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) need to limit the amounts of these nutrients. It is still important to read the nutrition label on the candy’s package to see if it lists the amount of potassium, phosphorus and sodium. However, potassium and phosphorus are not always listed. You can look at the ingredient list to see if there are phosphorus or potassium additives. Watch this video for a quick lesson on how to spot hidden phosphorus on nutrition labels.
Here are some kidney-friendly treats to eat in limited amounts.
- Jolly Ranchers®
- Lemonhead® candies
- Lollipops (Dum Dum Pops®)
- Sugar free hard candies
- Jelly beans
- Gummy bears and gummy fruit slices
- Mike and Ike®
- Hot Tamales®
- Peeps® marshmallows
- Air Heads®
- Laffy Taffy®
- Sour Patch Kids®
- Candy corn
- Rice Krispies® treats
Candy to Limit
Candies that contain some chocolate or caramel can be eaten in moderation. These candies contain more phosphorus and potassium than the list above, so it is best to eat these in even more limited amounts than the candies listed above.
- Caramel apples
- Werther’s Original® hard candy
- Caramel-coated popcorn
- Chocolate wafer candy bars
- Chocolate-covered peppermint candies
Candy to Rarely Eat in Small Amounts
Chocolate and nuts contain high amounts of phosphorus and potassium. Candies that contain mostly chocolate and nuts are not recommended and should rarely be eaten.
- Chocolate candy bars (including Hershey’s®, milk and dark chocolate)
- Reese’s® Peanut Butter cups and pieces
- Peanut brittle
- Chocolate covered nuts
If you do wish to eat these, then consider buying the bite-size version and have one piece occasionally. You can also talk with your dietitian and nephrologist about taking your phosphorus binder with a chocolate and nutty candy.
Another great way to enjoy a kidney-friendly Halloween treat is to make your own. Check out these 16 tasty, kidney-friendly Halloween recipes from DaVita.com.
Some candies contain high amounts of phosphorus and potassium. There are candies that you can enjoy on Halloween while following a kidney-friendly diet. Your dietitian can help answer any questions you may have about your favorite candies.
Kidney-Friendly Candy for Dialysis Patients. DaVita. Accessed on August 13, 2021. https://www.davita.com/diet-nutrition/articles/advice/kidney-friendly-candy-for-dialysis-patients.
Additional Kidney Diet Resources
Visit DaVita.com and explore these diet and nutrition resources:
- DaVita Food Analyzer
- DaVita Dining Out Guides
- Today’s Kidney Diet Cookbooks
- DaVita Kidney-Friendly Recipes
- Diet and Nutrition Articles
- Diet and Nutrition Videos
- Kidney Smart® Virtual Classes
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician and dietitian regarding your specific diagnosis, treatment, diet and health questions.