Foodservice in a hemodialysis center

The renal dietitian has the challenge of planning a renal diet for patients treated with hemodialysis. The diet must be individualized to provide adequate nutrition for maintenance of ideal body weight and provide for the patient's sense of well-being (1). Because eating and drinking during hemodialysis present serious potential health risks (2-4), the renal dietitian needs to counsel the patient and/or other care provider to plan ways that the patient can consume adequate nutrition. The dietitian will need to follow a series of steps to assess, monitor, and provide alternate meal patterns, which may even include the use of commercial supplements.