Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease (2024)

by Kaitlin Williams Eckstein MPH, RDN, LDN | Last updated Feb 21, 2024 | Published on Feb 21, 2024 | CKD

Your doctor diagnosed you with kidney disease and now the idea of eating feels overwhelming. You’re throwing out foods from your pantry. Wondering if you can eat at your favorite restaurants. What about road trips or quick meals? Is there fast food that’s okay for kidney disease? You may not know what you can eat, or how to balance this new diet with your other dietary needs. You are not alone. The renal diet can seem very complicated and contradictory. The internet is a dangerous place to go for information because it’s difficult to know what is actually right for you.

The reality is, everyone is different and your dietary needs are going to be slightly different than another person with kidney disease. Some have to limit potassium and phosphorus. Some benefit from a fully plant based diet. Some are on dialysis and their needs change drastically. It is extremely difficult to lay out a “renal diet” on the internet, because it truly depends on the person, their degree of kidney disease, and their lab work.

So some of these foods may have more potassium than others. You may see a french fry listed. But that is because if potassium is normal in labs, you don’t need to restrict potassium. So some people can eat more potatoes than others. However, what is universal across the board for kidney disease is to limit sodium. So in this blog, we’ll focus on lower sodium options from fast food restaurants. It is very likely that a meal eaten out of the home is going to be higher in sodium (as well as potassium and phosphorus). So if you know you’re eating out for one meal, try to be very mindful of your intake of those nutrients in your other meals.

Let’s get into it. Are there fast foods that you can eat if you have kidney disease? The answer is yes. Sparingly. No matter where you go, this meal is going to be high in sodium. You’ll need to adjust the rest of the day to allow for a higher sodium meal. I’ve rounded up some favorite items that are less than 1000 mg. That may seem like a lot, but when you look at the nutrition facts for most fast foods, under 1000 mg can be hard to find.

30+ Fast Food Items that are Okay for Kidney Disease

  • Grilled chicken sandwich – 760 mg sodium
  • 8 count grilled nuggets – 440 mg sodium
  • 2 count chicken strips – 580 mg sodium
  • Market salad with grilled filet – 1020 mg sodium
  • Small fry – 190 mg sodium
  • Medium fry – 240 mg sodium
  • Fruit cup – 0 mg sodium
  • Side salad – 690 mg sodium
  • Greek yogurt parfait – 80 mg sodium

So you could put together a meal for less than 1000 mg. You could get the market salad or you could get grilled nuggets or chicken strips with french fries or you could get a grilled chicken sandwich with a fruit cup.

Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease (1)

McDonalds

  • Classic hamburger – 510 mg sodium
  • Cheeseburger – 720 mg sodium (removing ketchup, pickles, cheese can reduce sodium to 380 mg)
  • McChicken – 560 mg sodium
  • 6 piece McNugget – 500 mg sodium
  • Medium fry – 260 mg sodium

As you can see above, the toppings on a hamburger can add up quickly. Especially if there’s cheese, bacon, sauces, etc. But a regular old hamburger with a medium french fry only puts you back about 770 mg sodium. Not terrible.

Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease (2)

Taco Bell

  • Crunchy taco – 300 mg sodium (supreme 320 mg)
  • Black bean chalupa – 460 mg sodium
  • Cheese roll up – 430 mg sodium
  • Soft taco – 500 mg sodium
  • Black beans side – 140 mg sodium
  • Veggie power bowl – 870 mg sodium
  • Veggie mexican pizza – 690 mg sodium

I like to include Taco Bell for my plant-based people out there. You can get a vegetarian option that isn’t just a salad.The MVP here is a crunchy taco for only 300 mg of sodium. You could get 3 for less than 1000 mg. Not too shabby.

Wendys

  • Jr Cheeseburger deluxe – 610 mg sodium
  • Jr Hamburger – 420 mg sodium
  • Grilled chicken sandwich – 850 mg sodium
  • 6 piece chicken nuggets – 570 mg sodium
  • Parmesan Caesar salad – 790 mg sodium (+320 mg for full packet dressing)
  • Small fry – 470 mg sodium

Wendy’s has some tasty salads but most of them were well over 1000 mg once the dressing was accounted for. The caesar salad is a decent option, especially if you don’t use the entire packet of dressing.

Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease (3)

Subway

  • 6” rotisserie style chicken – 710 mg sodium
  • 6” tuna – 670 mg mg sodium
  • 6” veggie delight – 320 mg sodium
  • Oven roasted turkey salad – 550 mg sodium (does not include dressing)
  • Tuna salad – 390 mg sodium (does not include dressing)
  • Sauces/condiments can range from 0-350 mg sodium
  • Cheese can range from 30-200 mg sodium; Swiss is the lowest at 30 mg

The subs listed above are calculated out using the protein, bread, and fresh veggies. Cheese and sauces will increase the sodium content.

So now that we know what fast foods are okay for kidney disease, what about the other meals? If you’re looking for more information on what to eat for kidney disease, check out our list of kidney friendly snacks!

Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease (8)

Kaitlin Williams Eckstein MPH, RDN, LDN

An award winning recipe developer, Dietitian Kaitlin’s mission is to empower others to reach their health goals by encouraging them to get back into the kitchen. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Diabetes.

Kaitlin Williams Eckstein MPH, RDN, LDN

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An award winning recipe developer, Dietitian Kaitlin’s mission is to empower others to reach their health goals by encouraging them to get back into the kitchen. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Diabetes.

Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease (10)

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Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease (2024)

FAQs

Fast Foods that are Okay for Kidney Disease? ›

Choose a hamburger/mayo chicken/grilled chicken salad. Avoid Big macs/big tasty/chicken legend burger as they have a very high salt content. Ask for fries without salt. Grilled chicken wings are the lowest salt option at KFC, although remember that if you eat more than one the salt content can get very high.

What fast food can I eat with kidney disease? ›

Homemade Fast Foods for Kidney Diets
  • Apple Fritter Rings.
  • Beef Burritos.
  • Chicken Nuggets with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce.
  • Chili Con Carne.
  • Coleslaw.
  • Egg and Sausage Breakfast Sandwich.
  • Great Way to Start Your Day Bagel.
  • Grilled Chicken Salad.

What can I eat from Subway with kidney disease? ›

Here Are Some Fast Foods For Kidney Disease? Here are some of my favourite meals fast food and kidney disease. Subway: 6 Inch tuna or veggie patty sub on Italian.

Can I eat hamburgers with kidney disease? ›

If you want to protect your kidneys, it's best to limit your intake of red meat. Try to replace at least some of your red meat with fish or poultry instead.

What should I order at a restaurant with kidney disease? ›

➢ Avoid dishes with dried beans, chickpeas, nuts and seeds. ➢ Avoid ordering casserole type foods that are already mixed and cooked. Meat and other protein foods: ➢ Order plain food that can be cooked to order such as pork chop, steak, fish and chicken.

Can kidney patients eat taco bell? ›

Looking at Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's, the regular plain hamburger looks like the best choice with the lowest phosphorus and potassium. In general, Taco Bell has few ideal options, with their crunchy and soft tacos as the best options; however, it is rare for people to eat just 1 taco.

Is pizza ok for kidney disease? ›

Go for pizzas with a thick base, so you fill up on bread rather than the toppings. Pizza – avoid mushroom / tomato / sun-dried tomato to reduce potassium content, avoid extra cheese to limit phosphate and avoid too many processed meats to limit salt content.

Is tuna sandwich good for kidney disease? ›

Tuna is a good source of protein for people with kidney disease. When considering tuna, be sure to choose low-sodium canned albacore tuna. Tuna is also low in phosphorus and high in omega-three fatty acids, making it a healthy choice for people with kidney disease.

What Mexican food is kidney-friendly? ›

Additional kidney-friendly Mexican recipes include: Beef Burritos. Chicken Enchiladas. Easy Chorizo.

Is tuna sandwich good for kidney? ›

Tuna is kidney-friendly and an inexpensive source of protein. Make homemade tuna salad with yogurt instead of mayo and throw it into a pita for a delicious meal. Low-sodium chicken broth or bouillon cubes. Make a quick and easy soup by heating these up and adding some noodles and frozen veggies to make a noodle soup.

What meat is easiest on the kidneys? ›

What to Eat on a Renal Diet
  • Skinless chicken or turkey.
  • Fish or seafood.
  • Lean beef like sirloin or tenderloin.
  • Eggs.
  • Tofu and beans, like kidney beans or lentils. Note that these are higher in potassium and phosphorus, so you may need to limit the portion size.
May 6, 2022

Is rotisserie chicken good for kidney disease? ›

With kidney health in mind, it's best to buy fresh chicken and prepare it at home to your liking. Unfortunately, pre-made rotisserie chicken is high in sodium and can negatively affect kidney function. Three ounces of chicken breast provide 13: 64 mg of sodium.

What are the 10 best foods for kidney disease? ›

When you have kidney disease, a well-balanced diet is your superfood – and can help to make any meal you prepare super!
  • Apples. ...
  • Cherries. ...
  • Shellfish. ...
  • Açai berries. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Flax and Chia seeds. ...
  • Citrus. Citrus fruit like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are considered berries that have evolved over millions of years!

What ice cream is kidney-friendly? ›

For low potassium options, choose fruit flavours that are traditionally low in potassium like: lemon, lime, raspberry, strawberry or vanilla.

Can kidney patients eat pickles? ›

Pickles are another harmful food to avoid in chronic kidney disease. Pickles and any kind of fermented foods can be high in sodium. It can be harmful to people with kidney problems as their kidneys may not be able to remove excess sodium from the body.

Can you eat grilled chicken with kidney disease? ›

Grilled beef, pork, chicken and seafood

The protein in meat contains all the essential amino acids, so regardless of the portion for a high protein dialysis diet or low protein chronic kidney disease diet, it is one of the best sources of high quality protein.

Is fast food bad for kidney disease? ›

Because these products are typically salted, they have a high sodium content, and you should limit your consumption of them if you have kidney disease and diabetes. Other examples of high sodium processed foods to limit are instant noodles, frozen pizza, fast food, and frozen meals.

Can you eat French fries with kidney disease? ›

Limit foods like oranges, prunes, bananas, tomatoes, egg yolks, avocados, and potatoes (including French fries). Protein—Protein makes your kidneys work harder and eating high amounts can lessen their ability to remove wastes from the body. Minimize eating animal proteins like meats, some seafood, and dairy products.

Can you eat fried chicken if you have kidney disease? ›

Large amounts of fried foods are not recommended as part of a healthy diet for anyone, whether a person has chronic kidney disease (CKD) or not.

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