For most Americans, summertime means carefree cookouts and celebrations featuring delicious and bountiful food. However, for the nearly 400,000 Americans who are on dialysis due to kidney failure, unique dietary restrictions limit their food and fluid options, and their ability to fully enjoy summertime meals.

But dialysis patients don’t have to give up the foods they love to follow a healthy renal diet. To help them enjoy flavorful, healthy meals, Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, initiated a partnership with celebrity Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr., star of Food Network’s “Big Daddy’s House.” In collaboration with FMCNA dietitians, Chef McCargo has developed a list of helpful summer food selections and grilling tips for people with restricted diets due to kidney failure.

To control their levels of potassium, people on dialysis have to limit their intake of many foods that are generally considered healthy, such as oranges and tomatoes. They also have to restrict their consumption of dairy products, nuts and dried beans to prevent excess phosphorus buildup, as well as salt and saturated fats. Too much liquid can lead to a buildup of excess fluid and other health complications.

“Even with the dietary limits placed on them by kidney failure, there’s no reason dialysis patients can’t enjoy the satisfying flavors of healthy, low-fat foods cooked on the grill,” said Chef McCargo. “The following simple tips can help patients and their families prepare tasty, yet healthy meals that keep them feeling their best.”

Five Tips for Dialysis Patients on Healthy Summer Eating

  • Make a grocery list and stick to it. When choosing your grilling menu, pick foods high in protein and low in saturated fat, such as lean meats, poultry and fish.
  • Choose dialysis-friendly fruits and vegetables. When grilling, use low-potassium vegetables such as summer squash, onions and peppers.
  • Add flavor with herbs. Use seasonings instead of salt to flavor meats, side dishes and appetizers. Basil, rosemary, lemon and garlic are great ways to enhance the flavor of food, as is garlic powder or no-salt Italian seasoning.
  • Be careful with cheese. Avoid high-phosphorous cheeses such as American and Parmesan. Instead, try substituting one ounce of mozzarella, Swiss, Provolone or brie when grilling.
  • Watch your fluids. Hot weather tends to increase thirst. To avoid drinking excess water or other liquids, try sucking measured amounts of frozen grapes or ice cubes instead. Limiting salt intake can also reduce cravings for liquid.

Still looking for ideas? Try Chef McCargo’s delicious low-sodium, dialysis-friendly turkey burger recipe that’s perfect for summer cookouts!

For a complete list of Chef McCargo’s dialysis-friendly recipes, as well as fitness tips, videos and other information about staying active and maintaining a healthy diet on dialysis, visit FMCNA’s Healthy Lifestyles website. For more information about kidney disease and dialysis, call toll free at 1-888-325-5175.

About Fresenius Medical Care

Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) is the world’s leading company devoted to patient-centered renal therapy. Through more than 3,119 clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, we provide kidney dialysis treatments to approximately 253,000 patients worldwide. We are also the world’s leading maker of dialysis products, such as dialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Chronic kidney failure is a condition that affects more than 2.1 million individuals worldwide. For more information about the company’s more than 2,100 U.S. dialysis facilities, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com (in English and Spanish). For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit www.fmc-ag.com or www.fmcna.com.

About Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr.

Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. competed on and won season four of “The Next Food Network Star” in 2008, beating out thousands of culinary hopefuls for the ultimate dream job – his own Food Network show. “Big Daddy’s House” premiered in 2008 and continues to be a success. On “Big Daddy’s House,” Aaron shares his passion for big, bold flavors and fun, family cooking, bringing a down-to-earth vibe and warm smile to the kitchen. He recently published his first cookbook, “Simply Done, Well Done.” Whether cooking with his children, relatives, friends, or even by himself, big food and big fun reign supreme.

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