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Protein Restriction for Children

Protein requirements for children with kidney failure

The body uses protein from foods to grow and repair cells. With kidney failure, your child will need to avoid excess protein. The kidneys may not be able to get rid of the waste products that come from eating too much protein. But it's also important for your child to get enough protein for proper growth and nutrition. Your child's weight, medical condition, type of treatment, and lab values will all help determine how much protein your child needs. Your child's healthcare provider or dietitian will help determine this, too.

What foods are high in protein?

The following foods are high in protein. If your child has kidney failure, talk with their healthcare provider about how much of these foods your child should have:

  • Meat (beef, chicken, pork, and turkey)

  • Fish

  • Seafood (shrimp, scallops, clams, and oysters)

  • Eggs

  • Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and pudding)

Helpful protein serving conversions

Your child's healthcare provider or dietitian will tell you how much protein your child can have each day. This will usually be listed in servings or grams per day.

Food

Amount of protein

Food

Amount of protein

Chicken nuggets

6 grams/6 nuggets

Regular hamburger

12.3 grams

Chicken fingers

18 grams/6 pieces

¼-pound burger

25.8 grams

Chicken sandwich, plain

21 grams

Fast-food roast beef sandwich, plain

21.5 grams

Chicken, ½ breast, fried

34.8 grams

1 pork chop

25 grams

Chicken wing, fried

9.73 grams

Lunch meats on 6-inch sub sandwich

21.8 grams

Drumstick, fried

15 grams

1 large egg

6.3 grams

Online Medical Reviewer: Dan Brennan MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Walead Latif MD
Date Last Reviewed: 8/1/2023
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