After your child’s kidney transplant, some of the dietary advice and diet changes that were required before their transplant may no longer be needed. Your kidney team will recommend a healthy, balanced diet for your child and will also let you know which foods to avoid.
The medicines your child takes to protect their new kidney are called immunosuppressants. These lower the body’s immune response, which can make it harder for your child’s body to fight infections. This means that food safety is especially important after a transplant.
This page can help you support your child to stay healthy and support the long-term health of their new kidney.
What food safety advice should I follow for my child?
Because immunosuppressants lower the immune response, it is important to take extra care when preparing, storing and choosing food.
| Foods to avoid | Alternatives |
|---|---|
Unpasteurised milk and dairy products |
Pasteurised milk, yoghurt and cheese |
Raw or undercooked meat, fish or shellfish |
Well-cooked meat, fish or shellfish |
Runny or softly cooked eggs that do not have the British Lion mark |
Runny or softly cooked eggs if they carry the British Lion mark |
Mould-ripened and blue cheeses like Brie and Stilton |
Pasteurised cheeses, or mould-ripened and blue cheeses that have been cooked until steaming hot |
Salad bars, buffets and delicatessens |
Freshly prepared salads, ready-to-eat meats in sealed packets |
Soft-serve ice cream |
Packaged or sealed ice cream |
Food that has not been stored safely |
Food stored correctly and used within its use-by date. Keep your fridge at 5°C or below. |
As well as choosing foods carefully:
- Wash your and your child’s hands with soap and water before preparing food and before eating
- Wash fruit and vegetables well before your child eats them
- Take care with leftovers, especially rice. Cool and refrigerate them promptly, use them within 24 hours, and reheat until steaming hot throughout. Leftovers should only be reheated once. Following these steps helps reduce the risk of food poisoning.
- When eating out or having a takeaway, check the food hygiene rating. If you have a takeaway, eat it when it is freshly prepared rather than keeping leftovers to reheat later
Which foods can affect my child’s medicines?
Some foods and drinks may change how your child’s medicines work. Your child’s transplant team will tell you which foods they need to avoid with their medicines.
Unless the transplant team says they are safe, do not give your child the following fruit or juices made from these:
- Grapefruit
- Pomelo
- Seville oranges or products containing these
- Starfruit
How can I help my child to eat healthily after a kidney transplant?
Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods and finding a balance between foods that help your child grow and stay healthy, and foods that are best eaten less often. This can also help protect the long-term health of their new kidney.
Regular meals and snacks can help your child get the energy and nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
| Foods to have less often | Healthier options to try |
|---|---|
Crisps and other salty snacks |
Unsalted popcorn, fruit or vegetable sticks |
Sugary drinks |
Water or milk |
Sweets, chocolate, cakes and pastries |
Fruit, yoghurt, unsalted nuts |
Fried foods |
Grilled, baked or oven-cooked foods |
Takeaways and ready meals |
Home-cooked meals or lower-salt options |
Fatty or processed meats, such as sausages and burgers |
Fresh lean meat, chicken, fish, beans or lentils |
Foods made with lots of butter or cream |
Foods made with olive or rapeseed oil |
Eating too much salt can increase your child’s blood pressure. This is important after a kidney transplant because high blood pressure can affect the health of your child’s new kidney.
To reduce the amount of salt your child eats:
- Choose fresh or home-cooked foods more often
- Choose lower-salt options where available
- Avoid adding salt at the table
Do not use salt substitutes, such as low-sodium salt, unless your child’s kidney team says they are safe. Some salt substitutes contain potassium.
Why might my child feel hungrier after a kidney transplant?
Your child’s appetite may improve after their transplant. Some medicines, particularly steroids, can also make them feel hungrier.
Regular meals and snacks can help your child get the energy and nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Offering fruit or vegetable sticks instead of foods high in fat or sugar can help prevent excess weight gain.
If your child is often very hungry or you are concerned about their weight or growth, speak to your child’s kidney team or dietitian.
How can I help keep my child’s bones healthy?
Calcium helps keep your child’s bones strong and healthy. Dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese are good sources of calcium.
Try to include three portions of dairy foods in your child’s diet each day. The size of a portion depends on your child’s age.
One portion could be:
- 125-150ml glass of milk
- One pot of yoghurt
- 30g of hard cheese (about the size of a small matchbox)
Why is being active important for my child?
Being active can help your child stay healthy and keep their muscles and bones strong.
After a transplant, your child can slowly become more active as they feel stronger.
Encourage your child to take part in activities they enjoy, such as walking, cycling, swimming or playing with friends. Their kidney team will tell you when they can start different activities and sports, and if there are any that they should avoid.
Can my child take herbal supplements?
Do not give your child herbal or other natural supplements unless their kidney team says they are suitable. Some of these products may affect how their transplant medicines work.
Can my child have probiotic drinks?
Probiotics, including kefir, contain live bacteria that may help support gut health. However, we do not know enough about the use of these drinks in children after a kidney transplant.
Always check with your child’s kidney team before giving them probiotic drinks, particularly soon after their kidney transplant
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