Kidney Friendly Cookies: What to Look For (and Which to Buy)

Low Sodium Cookies

Although cookies taste sweet, they can be surprisingly high in sodium. We consider a food to be high in sodium if it contains more sodium than calories. As you can see in the table below of sodium and calorie information from the USDA, some cookies may have more sodium than calories.

These numbers are just averages and individual brands of cookies may be higher or lower in sodium.

The KDOQI Nutrition Guidelines recommend limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300mg per day for individuals with kidney disease. Whenever possible, we recommend choosing a cookie that has less sodium than calories to help you stay within your daily sodium goal.

Low Phosphorus Cookies

Cookies are typically considered low phosphorus foods. Many baked goods contain baking powder, which is a high phosphorus ingredient, but cookies are typically not made with baking powder.

Phosphorus is a mineral found in many foods that can cause problems for people who have CKD. Too much phosphorus is associated with increased risk of coronary artery calcification (even in people with normal renal function!).

Foods that contain phosphorus additives are considered high phosphorus foods. The only way to determine if a food is high in phosphorus is to read the ingredient list. While phosphorus additives are not common in cookies, some brands may have them, such as these Chips Ahoy Cookies.

Low Potassium Cookies

Cookies are considered low potassium foods. Butter and sugar, both foods that are naturally potassium free, are primary ingredients in most cookie recipes which results in cookies being very low in potassium compared to other foods.

Some individuals with chronic kidney disease may need to be mindful of their potassium intake, however, many people with CKD do not need to restrict their potassium intake.

Additionally, there are a lot of reasons that potassium can get out of balance in kidney disease that aren’t related to how much potassium you’re actually eating, so don’t restrict foods that are high in potassium unless you’ve been instructed to do so by your doctor or dietitian. If you want to learn more, sign up for our free mini-course on 5 Ways to Control Potassium Without Avoiding High Potassium Foods.

Are cookies kidney friendly?

Cookies are typically low in protein, and judging by the long lists I have below, you can easily find your favorite flavor of cookies in a low sodium flavor that contain no phosphorus additives. They are also typically low in potassium. Seems like a dream food, right?

Well, not quite. Cookies are typically high in sugar, low in fiber, low in vitamins and antioxidants, and contain no fruits or vegetables (and even the ones that do claim to contain fruits and vegetables probably don’t include enough to truly count as a serving). And if you happen to have diabetes as well as CKD, then cookies are considered a high carbohydrate food that will raise your blood sugar.

The key to kidney friendly cookies is moderation.

The more cookies you eat, the less room you have for kidney superfoods like fruits and vegetables. On a day to day basis, I recommend that you limit your sweet indulgences to no more than 10% of your daily calories. This means that if you need 2,000 calories per day, then you can include about 200 calories worth of cookies (or whatever other sweet treat you want!).

Cookies are good for the soul, and as long as we enjoy them in moderation, they can still have a place in a kidney-friendly diet.

• 365 by Whole Foods Market Animal Cookie
• Full Circle ORGANIC ANIMAL COOKIES
• Nabisco Barnum’s Animals Crackers
• Simple Truth Organic Animal Crackers
• Wegmans Organic Animal Cookies

• 365 Everyday Value® Organic Wheat Flour Cookies Chocolate Chip Cookies (With Real Chocolate Chips)
• 365 by Whole Foods Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
• Annie’s Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
• Bake City Cookie Plus Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies – NOTE: these are considered a high protein cookie
• Chips Ahoy! Chewy Chip Cookies
• Crazy Monkey Baking Granola Cookie Clusters Dark Chocolate Chip
• Emmy’s Organics Organic Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies – ZERO sodium
• Little Bites Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Favorite Day Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Great Value Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Kroger® ChipMates Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Lenny & Larry’s The Complete Cookie Chocolate Chip – NOTE: this is a high protein cookie
• MadeGood Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies
• Matt’s Bakery | Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Newman’s Own Chocolate Chip Family Recipe Cookies
• Too Good Gourmet Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Crazy Monkey Baking Lemon Coconut
• Pepperidge Farm Maui Milk Chocolate Coconut Almond Chocolate Chunk Crispy Cookies
• Tate’s Bake Shop Coconut Crisp Cookies
• Thinsters Cookie Thins Cookies, Toasted Coconut

• 365 by Whole Foods Oatmeal Raisin Organic Cookies
• LENNY & LARRY’S Complete Cookie Oatmeal Raisin – Note: high in protein
• OTIS SPUNKMEYER Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• PEPPERIDGE FARM Santa Cruz Oatmeal Raisin
• TATE’S BAKE SHOP Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• That’s Smart! Oatmeal Raisin Soft Baked Cookies

• Bake City Cookie Plus Keto Peanut Butter Cookies – NOTE: these are high protein cookies
• Emmy’s Organics Coconut Cookies, Peanut Butter
• Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies
• Lance Nekot Peanut Butter Cookies
• Lenny & Larry’s The Complete Cookie, Peanut Butter – NOTE: high protein cookie

• 365 by Whole Foods Market, Vanilla Sandwich Creme Cookies
• 365 by Whole Foods Market, Chocolate Sandwich Creme Cookies
• Goodie Girl Chocolate Creme Sandwich Cookies
• GRANDMA’S Sandwich Creme Vanilla Flavored Cookies
• Great Value Assorted Sandwich creme Cookies
• Lance Nekot Cookie Sandwiches Lemon Creme Filling (also available in peanut butter, fudge, and vanilla)
• OREO Golden Sandwich Cookies, Lemon Flavored Creme