Preventing COVID-19

1.     Have the ill person stay in one room, away from other people, including yourself, as much as possible.

a.     If possible, have the ill person use a separate bathroom.

b.     Avoid sharing personal household items like dishes, towels, and bedding.

c.     Have the ill person wear a facemask when they’re around people, including you.

d.     If the sick person can’t wear a facemask, you should wear one while in the same room with them.

e.     If the sick person needs to be around others (within the home, in a vehicle, or doctor’s office), everyone should wear a facemask.

2.     Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coming into contact with the sick person. If soap and water aren’t  readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands with it and rub them together until they feel dry.

3.     Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

4.     Frequently disinfect all surfaces that are touched often, like counters, tabletops, and doorknobs. Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.

5.     Wash laundry thoroughly. If the laundry is soiled, wear disposable gloves and keep the soiled items away from your body while laundering. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves.

6.     Avoid unnecessary visitors.

Many restaurants are now closed to enforce social distancing, but take-out for your kidney diet is still available from many eateries. Start by knowing your diet well and asking your dietitian for any tips or advice. If you have sodium, potassium, phosphorus, or protein restrictions, this information will help you make good decisions based on your specific dietary needs.

Plan ahead. Choose a restaurant where it will be easiest to select foods best suited for your diet. Restaurants where food is made to order are the best choice.

Making your selections. Look over the menu carefully. Ask for more details about items you don’t know about. When you place your order explain that you’re following a special diet. Make special requests about the way your food is prepared as follows:

Entrées ideas:

• Portions served in restaurants may be much larger than what you eat at home. When ordering take-out, estimate an amount close to what you normally have (three ounces of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards). Plan to have leftovers or split the meal with another person.
• Grilled items are good choices.
• Request that salt not be added when cooking.
• Request that gravies or sauces be served in a separate container.
• Avoid mixed dishes or casseroles. They’re  usually higher in sodium and phosphorus.
• Remove the skin from poultry and any crusts from fried foods to decrease sodium content.
• It’s best NOT to add steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or hot sauce because of the high sodium content.
• Lemon or lime juice and vinegar make good sauces and will bring out a lot of the natural flavor of foods. Black pepper will add zest to the food without making you thirsty.

When picking a side dish:

• If you need to restrict potassium, choose starches and vegetables that are lower in potassium, such as rice, noodles and green beans.
• If your meal doesn’t include a good choice for your diet, request a substitute.
• Ask that sauces be omitted or served in a separate container.

When the delivery arrives:

• Ask the delivery person to leave the bag outside your door or be sure to keep your distance from them, especially if you need to pay them directly.
• If you have to pay them directly, consider wearing gloves. You can also wipe down the bag with a disinfectant wipe.
• Make sure food is well heated before eating.
• Wash your hands before eating.