Kidney Nutrition Nuggets is your go-to podcast for bite-sized, practical tips on kidney health and nutrition. Hosted by Summer Van Arsdale, a registered dietitian with over a decade of experience, this show breaks down complex kidney topics into easy-to-digest insights that empower you to take control of your health. No matter where you are at in your kidney health journey, here you'll find science-backed information, myth-busting facts, and real-life inspiration in every episode.
Three mistakes you're making when attempting to eat plant-based for kidney health
Three Mistakes You’re Making When Trying to Eat Plant-Based for Kidney Health
You’ve heard that eating more plant-based foods can support your kidney health, so you’re ready to give it a try. But what does “plant-based” actually mean when you have CKD?
Do you need to become vegan? Should you be cutting back on protein? And how do you know whether the plant-based foods you’re choosing are actually supporting your kidneys?
In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, I’m breaking down three common mistakes I see people make when trying to eat more plant-based for kidney health and, more importantly, helping you understand how to approach plant-based eating without turning it into another restrictive kidney diet.
If you’re ready to start putting this into practice, download my FREE Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Proteins for CKD here (https://summer-van-arsdale.mykajabi.com/opt-in). It will help you take what you learned in this episode and begin making realistic plant-forward changes to the way you already eat.
Connect with me on Instagram:@Kidney_Nutrition_Coach or Facebook: The Kidney Nutrition Coach.
15 Sept 2026
Your Kidney Diet Needs a Plan B: Why Frozen Foods Belong in Your Freezer
Frozen foods are not off-limits with CKD. In fact, having the right convenience foods available may be one of the best ways to make your kidney-friendly diet easier to maintain long term.
In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, I’m breaking down the misconceptions around frozen and processed foods and sharing why I actually encourage my clients to build convenience into their kidney nutrition strategy.
We’ll talk about how frozen foods can add variety, reduce reliance on takeout, save time and energy, and give you a much-needed Plan B for the days when cooking from scratch simply isn’t happening.
I’ll also walk you through what to consider when choosing a frozen meal and how to balance it into a more complete meal that supports your individual kidney health goals. Because the best kidney nutrition strategy isn’t the one that only works when life goes perfectly. It’s the one that still works when life doesn’t.
🎧 Plus, learn more about my Kidney-Friendly Freezer Playbook, with 55+ hand-selected frozen meals and my strategy for learning how to choose your own. You can purchase your copy here (https://www.thekidneynutritioncoach.com/offers/L52AYTqT/checkout) for just $17.
Find me on IG @Kidney_Nutrition_Coach and let me know what your favorite part of the episode is! If you found this helpful please write a review and hit that subscribe button to continue to get my latest podcast episodes.
1 Sept 2026
What to do Before Your Next Lab Draw
Lab day can be nerve-racking when managing chronic kidney disease. When so much weight is placed on your eGFR, creatinine, potassium, and other kidney labs, it’s natural to want to do everything you can to get the “best” results possible.
In this episode, I’m breaking down five things to consider before and during your next lab draw, including hydration, exercise, fasting, supplements and what happens during the blood draw itself.
We’ll also talk about why pumping your fist can artificially affect your test results, what a hemolyzed sample means, and why creating a consistent lab-day routine can help you and your healthcare team make better decisions about your kidney health.
Because when nutrition recommendations are based on your lab results, we want to make sure we’re working with the best information possible.
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Let me know what your biggest takeaway was from today's episode! Find me on IG @kidney_nutrition_coach or email me directly at thekidneynutritioncoach@gmail.com (mailto:thekidneynutritioncoach@gmail.com).
Want to become a master at interpreting your lab results and apply them to personalize your nutrition? Enroll in Kidney Nutrition 101 here (https://www.thekidneynutritioncoach.com/kidney-nutrition-101)!
Who has been a guest on Kidney Nutrition Nuggets
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Amanda Hayes
JENNI HULBURT
Melanie Betz
Summer Van Arsdale
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
78
Social presence
91
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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