Nutrition and Chronic Kidney Disease

Bush Tucker in Kidney Failure and Diabetes

A unique guide presents helpful advice on eating Indigenous foods when you have kidney failure and diabetes, especially for who live in remote home country.

Use with clients to develop a renal diet using Bush Tucker. Download this book free from National Renal Resource Centre - Indigenous Resources - or call 1800 257 189.

In kidney failure - you should take care with salt (sodium), phosphate, protein, potassium and calories. 

This 'Bush Tucker' book provides the nutrition breakdown of many Australian Indigenous and native foods - animals (walleroo, kangaroo, possum, etc), insects (moth, witcheyty grub, ants), native fruits and vegetables.

Medicare's Allied Health Initiative Enhanced Primary Care Plans
Chronically ill people can be managed by their GP under the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan which provides Medicare rebates for allied health services (including dietitans and other ancilliary services). This website shows how to register your client for this plan, referral forms and details of what is covered.

Useful Resources

     Nutrition and CKD - KHA website: under Management:   
     Back on the Menu - KHA's recipe book for a restricted low potassium diet
     Kidney Stories Toolkit - No 8: Diet and kidney disease
     Chapter 10 - Thinking about food and drink - Living with Kidney Failure (7th edition)
     Dietitians Association of Australia - Find a local renal dietitian

Tomorrow People starts today
Part of Australian Better Health Initiative’s Measure Up campaign, a joint Australian, State and Territory government initiative

Tomorrow People - for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and website tells about being healthier and living longer - today, tomorrow and into the future. Tomorrow People explains how you can improve your health by making a few simple changes to your eating habits and by being more active in your daily life. By taking a few simple steps, start making a real difference – for you and your community.

-  Tomorrow People Booklet - download and print this handy booklet.
-  Order Tomorrow People Resources using their online order form.

Thumbs Up for Healthy Tucker - The Jimmy Little Foundation
This team regularly travel to Arnhem Land communities giving workshops to encourage young Indigenous Aussies to make better healthy food choices and drink water instead of sweet sugar fizzy drinks. Healthy eating dramatically reduces the incidence of kidney failure which destroys families and communities across Australia.

Jimmy Little Foundation - YouTube This innovative health education program presents a range of fun videos of songs which can be used as part of kidney education sessions with Indigenous Australian children. RIP Jimmy Little 2 April 2012 These videos are just some in a range taken at workshops held in Arnham Land communities in the Northern Territory. Gapuwiyak - The Water Song and Drinking water instead

The EON Edible Gardens Program
EON Edible Gardens  I  Interactive Food Wheel  I  
Setting up your garden  I  Bush Tucker datasheets

EON Edible Gardens Program complements a partnership with the Unity of First People of Australia’s Diabetes Management and Care Program and other “wellness” programs in remote communities. They ensure the education and awareness that a nutritious diet in a happy and healthy life may prevent chronic disease, was not limited by the lack of access to affordable fruit and vegetables in remote communities.

To ensure children in these communities have access to free fresh fruit and vegetables, EON piloted its first Edible Garden in the Kimberley. Its success led to the EON Edible Gardens Programs which is now active in eight communities across the Kimberley, with significant expansion planned over coming years.

EON Edible Gardens forms part of EON Thriving Communities program, taking the better health and disease prevention message from the garden to the home.

UPDATED 12 MAY 2013