Menu for Low-Potassium Diet

Potassium is an essential mineral, but if you have problems with your kidneys or take ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure, getting too much in your diet may not be good for you, and you might need to limit your intake. High levels of potassium in your blood can lead to an irregular heartbeat. Potassium is found in a number of different types of foods, including meat, fruits, vegetables, milk and grains, thereby making it difficult to know what you can eat on your low-potassium diet. Following a menu can help.

Grapes are a low-potassium fruit. (Image: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images)

Diet Basics

Halved avocado (Image: olgakr/iStock/Getty Images)

When following a low-potassium diet, it is recommended that you limit your daily intake of potassium to 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day. Fruits and vegetables are the primary source of potassium in the diet. Avoiding high-potassium fruits and vegetables -- such as bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, avocados, beets, spinach, beans and potatoes -- can help you keep your potassium intake low. Draining the liquid from canned fruits and vegetables also helps decrease your intake, as well as cooking your fruits and vegetables in water and discarding the liquid.

Breakfast Choices

Scrambled eggs and brown toast (Image: Nuno Garuti/iStock/Getty Images)

A healthy low-potassium breakfast meal might include one scrambled egg with two slices of whole wheat toast, 2 teaspoons of margarine, one container of low-fat yogurt and 1/2 cup of cranberry juice cocktail. Or, you can try 1 cup of oatmeal topped with 1/2 cup of fresh raspberries and served with 1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese with 1/2 cup of strawberries and 1/2 cup of apple juice.

Lunch Lineup

Grilled chicken with garlic and cherry tomato (Image: anna1311/iStock/Getty Images)

For lunch, you can have 3 ounces of grilled chicken served with 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice, 1 cup of chopped romaine lettuce with 1 tablespoon of salad dressing and 10 fresh cherries. Another healthy lunch option on your low-potassium diet might include a tuna sandwich with 3 ounces of water-packed tuna mixed with 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on two slices of whole wheat bread, along with 1/2 cup of baby carrots and one fresh peach.

Dinner Delicacies

Steak fajitas (Image: Canadapanda/iStock/Getty Images)

A sample low-potassium dinner meal might include shrimp primavera made with 3 ounces of cooked shrimp mixed with 1 cup of cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of mixed vegetables, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, garlic and 2 tablespoons of fresh Parmesan cheese, served with one slice of Italian bread with olive oil for dipping. You can also try steak fajitas made with 3 ounces of cooked flank steak cut into strips, 1/2 cup of cooked peppers and onions rolled into a soft tortilla, along with 1/2 cup of rice.

Snack Time

Sliced cucumber (Image: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images)

You can also snack on your low-potassium diet. Healthy options include one container of low-fat yogurt with one graham cracker sheet, one fresh, peeled apple cut into slices with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or 1/2 cup of sliced cucumber with 1 tablespoon of salad dressing.