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What is this information about?
This leaflet is for anyone with kidney disease. It aims to guide you in meeting your daily protein needs.
Why have I been given this information?
Your protein needs are different to the general population. This is because:
- when approaching dialysis, it is important to not eat too much protein as this can put extra strain on the kidneys.
- when on dialysis it is important to eat slightly more protein as you can lose protein throughout the dialysis process.
Why do I need protein for my body?
Proteins are essential for all our body functions; including the growth and repair of body tissues, keeping our bones and muscles healthy and our immune system strong.
How much protein do I need?
To determine your protein goal, we use your dry or target body weight as a reference. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) falls below 18.5 kg/m² (underweight) or above 30 kg/m² (obese) we may need to adjust your daily protein goal.
Please speak with your dietitian if you are unsure on how to work this out.
Please refer to the table below to understand how many grams of protein you need based on different kidney treatments.
| Kidney treatment | Grams of protein per kg body weight per day |
| General population | 0.75 – 0.85g |
| Non-dialysis | 0.8 – 1.0g |
| Haemodialysis (HD) | 1.1 – 1.4g |
| Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) | 1.0 – 1.2g |
Where can I get my protein from?
Protein comes from both plant and animal sources. We also get smaller amounts form from everyday starchy foods such as bread, pasta and rice. The table below shows how much protein is in some of the foods we eat.
Be aware that the protein contents stated below will vary between different brands so always check the nutrition labels.
| Food | Recommended Portion size (g) | Average Protein content (g) |
| Tofu | 80g | 13-17 |
| Chickpeas | 150g, ½ drained can | 10 |
| Lentils | 150g cooked, 4 tablespoons | 14 |
| Cream cheese | 30g, 2 tablespoons | 2 |
| Hard cheese | 30g, Matchbox size | 8 |
| Cottage cheese | 75g | 7 |
| Quark | 60g | 9 |
| Cow’s milk | 200ml, 1/3 pint | 7 |
| Oat milk | 200ml, 1/3 pint | 2 |
| Soy milk (fortified) | 200ml, 1/3 pint | 5 |
| Almond milk | 200ml, 1/3 pint | 1 |
| Skyr yogurt | 150g (1/3 pot) | 16 |
| Natural yogurt | 125-150g, 1 standard pot/ 4 tablespoons | 5-6 |
| Greek yogurt | 125-150g, 1 standard pot/ 4 tablespoons | 8-9 |
| Soy yogurt | 125-150g, 1 standard pot/ 3 tablespoons | 5-6 |
| Rice pudding | 200g (1/2 standard tin) | 6 |
| Tinned custard | 130g (1/3 standard tin) | 4 |
| Nuts | 30g, small handful | 4-8 |
| Nut butter | 30g, 1 tablespoon | 7-8 |
| Chicken | 90g (1 breast/ thigh) | 29 |
| Minced beef | 90g | 20 |
| Quorn pieces | 75g | 11 |
| Pork sausages | 2 medium | 19 |
| Vegetarian sausages | 2 medium | 13 |
| Sliced ham | 2 Slices | 4 |
| White fish | 140g (1 fillet), whole hand | 34 |
| Prawns | 80g | 12 |
| Tinned fish | ½ standard tin | 17 |
| Eggs | 2 medium | 12 |
| Sliced bread | 2 medium slices | 6-8 |
| Rice | 50g uncooked, 2-3 tablespoons | 4 |
| Pasta | 75g uncooked, 2-3 tablespoons | 11 |
| Potato | 100g cooked | less than 2 |
| Cornflakes | 30g | 2 |
| Porridge oats | 40g | 4 |
| Weetabix | 2 biscuits | 5 |
What if I do a lot of sport?
If you are very physically active both your energy and protein needs will be higher, but we would still need to protect your kidneys by recommending a moderate protein intake.
It is likely that you will be able to meet your protein goals through your normal diet alone without supplementation such as protein shakes or protein powders.
Who can I contact for further information and advice?
This information is intended for patients receiving care in Brighton & Hove or Haywards Heath.
The information here is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.