If you’ve been ordering take out during COVID or if you’re considering venturing out to dine in a restaurant, you know eating healthy away from home is a challenge, but it can be even more challenging for dialysis patients. Following are five tips recommended by the National Kidney Foundation* to help you when eating away from home with confidence. Of course, each patient has different needs and Health Systems Management encourages you to work with your health care providers to determine your specific dietary needs.

Plan ahead

Follow your diet extra closely before and after eating away from home. This may include following an extra low salt, potassium, and phosphorus and less fluid intake. When possible, choose a restaurant where you can ask for your food to be made without added salt and where they have freshly cooked options; processed and pre-packaged foods are not your friend.

High protein

As a dialysis patient, remember animal proteins (beef, pork, poultry, fish, and eggs) and plant-based proteins are helpful to maintain muscle mass. Protein also helps fight infections and keep healthy protein levels (albumin) in your blood which helps lower your chances of holding on to extra fluid; eggs are also a good protein option.

Watch salt (sodium), potassium, phosphorus, and fluid intake

Remember to watch your sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and fluid intake when eating away from home, whether you are ordering take out or dining in a restaurant.

Salt can raise your blood pressure and also make you thirsty. It’s no secret most restaurants add a lot of salt to their foods, especially fast-food options. Here are some tips to help cut back on salt: 

• Ask for your food to be made without added salt.
• When possible, avoid processed/pre-prepared foods and choose freshly prepared foods.
• Avoid salty items like soy sauce, French fries (also high in potassium), and macaroni and cheese. Instead, order vegetables like carrots, green beans, or corn.

Phosphorus is a mineral found in foods like proteins, milk, cheese, fast foods, and packaged foods. Limiting phosphorus can help to protect your bones and keep them strong. Tips:

• Once again, avoid processed foods. Choose fresh foods, prepared to order whenever possible – and skip the cheese.
• Remember to take your phosphorus binders with you and take them during your meal!

Potassium is a mineral found in many foods, and it helps your heartbeat regular and your muscles work right. However, if your kidneys aren’t healthy, you may need to limit foods that can increase blood potassium levels to unsafe levels. To help maintain proper levels:

• Avoid tomato sauces and tomato juice, tropical fruits including bananas, melons, and orange juice; and potatoes, both white and sweet.
• One good option: order garlic and olive oil or white clam sauce with pasta, rice, or noodles.

It’s important to limit what you drink if your dialysis team has told you to follow fluid restrictions. Consider the amount of fluid you already had during the day and how much you will want to have after your meal. Choose cranberry, apple, or grape juice. One glass of liquid should be okay, but remember to also count the following as part of your daily fluid intake:

• Soup
• Ice cream
• Gelatin 

Smaller portion sizes

Many portion sizes in restaurants are too large for anyone watching their calorie intake and this applies to dialysis patients as well. To avoid overeating, you can:

• Order only what you need to enjoy your meal; don’t order anything super-sized.
• Split an order with a friend or family member or consider asking for a to-go box when your food arrives – and put half of your order in the box right away.  This is a great tip for anyone considering the large portions at many places. [And, it’s a budget-friendly tip too.]

Talk with your dialysis dietitian

Your dialysis dietitian plays an important role in your care! Be sure to work with this person to ensure your daily diet, whether you’re eating at home or dining out, is helping support your body. Every dialysis patient has different nutritional needs, so take heed when your dialysis dietitian gives you guidance! 

Health Systems Management, a dialysis management company, is based in Tifton, Georgia. Our company provides turnkey dialysis management services to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist dialysis clinics in North Carolina and Emory Healthcare dialysis clinics in the Atlanta, Georgia area. For more information about Health Systems Management, our locations and job openings for RNs, LPNs, PCTs and CCHTs, please visit: healthsystemsinc.com

*Core Content Source: National Kidney Foundation