(NC) — Healthy eating is a top concern for many Canadians and it's especially critical for people living with kidney disease. Following the kidney diet can be particularly tough. Why is it so difficult to manage? Potassium is one good reason. On packaged foods, potassium is not one of the 13 core nutrients that are mandatory on the Nutrition Facts table, so it is often not listed. However, when kidney function begins to decline it becomes more difficult for the body to filter potassium, water, sodium and phosphorus. Monitoring these elements helps people living with kidney disease maintain their remaining organ function, control the build-up of food wastes and reduce unwanted symptoms, such as nausea. The good news now is that there's help, with a new online tool called the Kidney Community Kitchen. “This is simply the best online tool I've used for managing the kidney diet,” says Patricia Treusch, who donated one of her kidneys to her son in 2007. “It meets the needs of those dealing with kidney disease and dialysis on so many levels. The first things that come to mind for me are the improved quality of life and the joys of healthy eating and sharing a meal, which are so important.” Free, bilingual, and easy to use, this site (www.kidneycommunitykitchen.ca) provides a way to plan meals and track intake of critical nutrients. While designed specifically for people living with kidney disease, it is proving handy to the general public. Special features include: • Dietitian-approved and kidney-friendly recipes; • Drag-and-drop meal planner that tracks vital nutrients; • Drag-and-drop, ready-to-go weekly meal plans created by dietitians; • The ability to submit your recipes to be added and reviewed by dietitians; • A way to ask nutritional questions of qualified dietitians; • Forums for sharing stories, ideas and favourite recipes; • Diabetic exchange amounts—good for people monitoring diabetic and renal diets; • Tips, FAQs and other nutritional info about the kidney diet. “The Kidney Community Kitchen was made possible through a special bequest,” says Paul Shay, the national executive director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. “It's an inspiring example of how legacy giving can truly make a difference.”