Written by Julie Hutter, RD, CDE, photo by Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
Convenience foods, such as those we may buy from the drive-thru, fast-food chains or grab- and-go locations, are sometimes hard to resist. These types of foods are quick, require little to no food preparation of our own doing, and can be helpful when we are tired or short on time. Although it is often more kidney-friendly and cost-effective to prepare whole fresh foods at home, at times this may seem difficult to avoid.
Even though these foods are convenient for many reasons, fast food is generally high in salt (sodium), which causes added stress to our heart and kidneys. Many items may also contain phosphorus additives, potassium, and large amounts of protein, which you may benefit from limiting to promote kidney health.
General tips when ordering fast food:
- Select small meals or “junior” meals to limit the nutrients listed above.
- Stick to a standard-sized burger and one patty per burger/sandwich to limit protein intake.
- Choose grilled or roasted proteins, instead of breaded, as these tend to be lower in sodium and fat.
- Ask for condiments on the side. This way, you can decide how much ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, etc., to add, or skip it all together. This can reduce your sodium intake by a large amount.
- Load up on vegetables such as lettuce, onion, cucumber, bell peppers and even a slice of tomato. These are low in sodium and can help you feel full for longer periods.
- Skip the processed cheese. Cheese slices can have over 200mg of sodium, and some also contain phosphorus additives.
- Aim for meals with 700mg of sodium or less.
Before your restaurant visit:
- Plan ahead: know what the restaurant offers and what choices are best for your dietary needs. Often, you can review the nutrition information and ingredients online at home.
- Cut back on fluids and high potassium foods earlier in the day, if you plan to go out for dinner.
- If you are prescribed phosphorus binders, take them with you when you leave the house. Carry them in a pillbox and take them, as prescribed, with meals eaten away from home, instead of waiting until you return home.
Restaurant menu items can change over time, or the recipe of your favorite items may have been modified, so it is important to check with the restaurant website for up-to-date nutrition information. Below are some general recommendations of the types of menu items that tend to be more kidney-friendly:
Breakfast:
- Egg wrap
- Egg sandwich, no cheese/meat
- Yogurt parfait
- Oatmeal with fruit
Burgers/Sandwiches:
- Veggie sub or sandwich
- Tuna sub or sandwich
- Classic or Jr. hamburger
- Fish sandwich
- ‘Fresco’ tacos
Sides:
- Order onion rings in place of French fries if you are following a low potassium kidney diet
- Ask for unsalted French fries if you have not been asked to follow a low potassium diet
- Steamed rice
- Apple slices
- Garden salad
Beverages:
- Water
- Carbonated water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Lemonade
- Non-cola pop
When visiting restaurants with options to customize your own wraps or sandwiches, keep in mind the following:
Choose:
- Fresh vegetables (i.e. Onion, bell pepper, cucumber)
- Salad greens
- Cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- Mayonnaise, vinaigrette, olive oil-based sauces, hummus, hot sauce
- Egg salad
- Tuna salad
- Herbs such as parsley, cilantro, basil
Limit:
- Bacon/bacon bits
- Croutons
- Olives, pickled jalapenos, pickles, hot peppers, picked beets
- Processed cheese slice, cheese spread, feta cheese
- Avocado
- Deli meats