Maria Karalis, RD, CSR, LD takes us to eat in the fast food world. Putting aside the salad bar there isn't much good to be said about the options at the main burger chains - get a plain burger at McDonald's? I understand that Maria is trying to find some middle ground and to be realistic because clearly a lot of people eat at these places - including a lot of people on dialysis - but this is not renal healthy food.
It is hard to see how fast food can go with conventional dialysis. Daily nocturnal dialysis makes the phosphorus and potassium less of an issue but the fat and salt is still a problem. The goal should always be to dialyze more and to take more time to eat. Just slow down. You can eat better and enjoy the food more.
Hmm, I'm "guilty" of eating a lot of fast food. But, I am doing pretty well; I stick to 1 small hamburger (no quarter pounders), a small drink (usually iced tea, but occasionally cola), and if, on the rare occasion I do get fries, I get them without salt.
I've found that I eventually got used to the renal diet, and now don't mind it. I do miss some of the phosphorous containing foods, but I occasionally cheat, and that gets me through.
Posted by: Jeff | April 23, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Don't sweat the small stuff - it took me a number of years to ween myself off the golden arches. Now when I give in I walk up and order both the meat and the fries with no salt - and I have to admit when I give in it's to a Quarter Pounder.
With daily extended overnight treatments there is much less to control but I'm trying to keep my good habits. The main thing is balance and moderation.
Posted by: Bill Peckham | April 23, 2008 at 02:22 PM