Kidney Stone Diet’s Favorite Things

Over the past 25 years as a kidney stone prevention nurse, I’ve worked with thousands of patients. And every day I’ve been asked a variation of these 2 questions:

1. “How much oxalate is in _______?”
2. “What do YOU eat, Jill?”

The answer to #1 is already taken care of. Just have a look at our Oxalate List.

But I don’t yet have a place to send people for #2, so consider this “Jill Harris’ Favorite Things for Kidney Stone Formers”!

This list is my go-to guide filled with better products for living a healthier life.

I hope this can serve as a personal shopper of sorts, so you can benefit from the hundreds of hours I’ve spent researching and testing everything on this list!

Anyway, without further ado, here are the foods and products that I love and use regularly!

Disclosure: I use and love all of these products. Just note, as an Amazon affiliate I may earn some nickels, at no additional cost to you, when you purchase using some of these links. Thanks for your support!

Kidney Stone Diet^® Approved

Protein Powders

• Pumpkin Seed Protein Powder: I personally use this because it’s sodium and sugar free, making it an excellent vegan source of protein. It’s unflavored, so it won’t leave any strange aftertaste, and it blends seamlessly with my smoothies and baked goods. In fact, I have an amazing high-protein pumpkin oat bar recipe made with this powder in my meal plan service. Trust me, you’ll want to try it. Check out the Meal Plan service for many more Kidney Stone Diet^®-compliant recipes. And the best part? They’re all delicious!
• Egg White Protein Powder: I like this for its flavor and texture. It does contain sodium, and I budget that in my day.
• PE Science Select Whey/Casein Blend: This powder is one of my favorites for taste. I like their customer service; they keep their products at a fair price, and the whey/casein blend is excellent for baking. They have many wonderful flavors. Choose what you like, except chocolate and chocolate-based powders. Many bodybuilders like the combo of whey/casein, as casein is a slow-digesting protein that helps you stay full longer. Sometimes, my stomach can’t handle a lot of whey, so I have different favorite products. If you can handle whey protein, this is my favorite for taste!

Kidney Stone Diet^® Approved

Oats

• Bob Red Mill High Fiber Oat Cereal: I use this for everything from my oat-crusted pizza to overnight oats to my famous muffins and granola.
• If you like organic oats, here is the version of the above.
• Finally, the GLUTEN-FREE version is here.

Kidney Stone Diet^® Approved

Kitchen Must Haves

• Overnight Oat Containers: I am obsessed with these for overnight oats, yogurt concoctions, my amazing parfaits, and anything else I choose for “on the go” meals.
• Mini Cuisinart: Often I don’t want to pull out my large food processor, so this mini version is easy to use and clean.
• Silicon Muffin Pan: Easy to clean and easy muffin removal.
• Silicon Donut (bagel) pan: I use this in my meal plan and snack and dessert e-book.
• Food Scale: These are an absolute must in your kitchen. You would be surprised how often we over/underestimate our portion sizes.
• Large Blender: Sometimes you need to batch meals.
• Small Blender: And sometimes you don’t.
• Silicone Loaf Pans: Easy food removal and clean up.
• Simple Meal Prep Containers: Old school, but simple and they hold up well in the dishwasher. Budget conscious as well.
• Can Opener: I love this one.
• Food Thermometer: Sits on my fridge and is easy to read for my 60-plus old eyes.
• Simple Popcorn Maker: The name says it all.
• Spice Jars With Funnel and Labels: I love them!
• Vintage Mugs with Lids and Spoons: I love these too! Great for my overnight oat recipes, yogurt parfaits, and coffee.
• Colorful Vintage Mugs with Lids and Spoons: The same as above but with color.
• Rice Cooker: This is a small one for those of us with less counter space.
• Reusable Straw/Spoon for Smoothies: Check out my Kidney Stone Diet® Safe Smoothie Ebook!
• Jill’s Favorite Pan: A great quality pan that holds up and heats evenly.
• Immersion Blender (must have): This is so much easier for making soups. I mix right in the pot.
• Cast Iron Skillet: This is my go-to skillet.
• Glass Bottle With Straw and Measurements: So you know how much you drink each day.
• Breville Toaster Oven: I got this toaster oven last holiday season and boy do I love it. Summer in Chicago can be pretty hot and not turning on my stove is something that makes me happy in those months. This toaster oven makes the best toast (usually toaster ovens do not make great toast). Toasty on the outside but fluffy bread on the inside. It cooks faster than my oven as it is a convection oven and it is super easy to clean up. If you are looking for a great toaster oven this is it!

Kidney Stone Diet^® Approved

Extracts and Seasonings

• Cake Batter Extract: I love to add this to some of my recipes in my
• Vanilla Bean Paste: This is so much more flavorful than extract! I genuinely love this and buy it ALL the time.
• Lemon Paste: Again, it uplifts my lemon bakes and cakes!
• Jello Sugar-Free Pudding: This will add flavor to fun low-calorie snacks!
• Truffle Dust: Because truffles!
• Jill’s Personal Blend Sodium-Free Seasoning Recipes
• More of Jill’s Personal Blend Sodium-Free Seasoning Recipes
• Store Bought Low or No Sodium Seasonings

Kidney Stone Diet^® Approved

Snacks

• Cheese Snacks: I love these. Yes, they are for babies, but I love the lower calories. Great for those nights when you can’t stick to a reasonable portion (it happens, folks!)
• Dried Cherries: I add these to my salads for a little texture and sweetness.
• Low Fat/Calorie Peanut Butter: I have cholesterol issues, so I watch my saturated fat. Also, while two tablespoons of regular peanut butter are 190 calories, the calories in powdered peanut butter are only 60.
• Cheese Chips: Do you see a pattern here? I love cheesy, crunchy things!
• Corn Cakes: A low calorie snack that I use for little turkey, avocado sandwiches, or some pb.
• Apple Crisps: You can tell I am a crunchy girl. I like these when I’m craving a crunch and they’re great with a sandwich.
• Crispy Rice Nuggets: Yes, these are delicious.
• Pea Crisps: I like these as well. They’re lower in sodium and have good protein and fiber for a snack! They’re one of my all-time favorites.
• Jill’s Kidney Stone Diet® Safe Snack & Desserts Ebook
• Apple Rings: A sweet snack with no added sugar.
• Fruit Bars: Another sweet snack with no added sugar.
• Crunchy Fruit Snacks: Sweet and crunchy snack with no added sugar.
• Low Salt Pistachios: I love toasting them up and adding them to everything from salads to yogurts to cereal (of course, not all in one day).
• Pea Crisps Part 2: More crunch with fiber and protein—a lower sodium snack option.
• No sodium pretzels: No sodium, but watch the portions for calories!
• Onion Chips: I love these with sandwiches, especially tuna.
• Gluten-Free Crackers: A delicious snack in a variety of flavors.
• High-fiber dried Cranberries: These are truly one of my favorite things because they contain all the fiber and no added sugar. They are great for yogurt, Jill’s granola, and as a salad topper.

Kidney Stone Diet^® Approved

Vegan Protein

• High-Protein Meatless Crumbles: Pay attention to the sodium, but they’re doable if you budget for the day. They’re great for tacos or sloppy joes.
• Chickpea Pasta: More fiber and protein than regular pasta.
• Another Brand of Meatless Crumbles: Watch the day’s sodium and budget. I only use half the listed portion, and I suggest you do the same because of the sodium.

Kidney Stone Diet^® Approved

Miscellaneous

• Dried Spaghetti Squash:  I have this on hand when I can’t find fresh at my grocery store.
• Lactose-Free High-Protein Milk: Watch the amount of calcium in each bottle and use half at a time as a portion.
• Low-Sodium Baking Powder: Regular baking powder has a lot of sodium, so I like to use this product to cut it down when possible.
• Favorite Water Bottle: I love this one. My favorite color is orange, but they have any color you like.
• Flavored Balsamic Vinegar: Fun to use in salads when I’m low on fruit
• At home Urine Strainer: Better than fishing that stone out of the toilet.
• Urine Hats for Toilet: For the many women who do accountability checks on how much urine they produce daily. 
• Orange Jugs: For men who want to check how much urine they produce daily.

I’ll continue to update this list as I find new foods and products, so be sure to bookmark it and check back!

Enjoy, and let me know about any favorites that you feel I should try!

Your friend and advocate,
Jill