This guide provides dietary information for dialysis patients who occasionally need to eat out. It lists the phosphorus, potassium, and sodium content of sample meals from common fast food and sit-down restaurants to help patients make choices within their dietary restrictions. Removing skin from chicken and choosing root beer over other dark sodas can help lower sodium and phosphorus intake when eating out.

1. By Samantha Jackson, M.S., Lamar University Dietetic Intern
Because it is so important to watch your phosphorus, potassium, and sodium intake, most of your meals
should be cooked at home. But sometimes there just isn’t enough time, so you may have to run through the
drive-thru or grab a bite to eat at a restaurant. This guide will help you figure out what the best choices
are for when you eat out.
Eating Out: A Guide for Dialysis Patients
Burger Joint: hamburger
with apple slices, Sprite
Phosphorus: 125 mg; Potassium: 249 mg; Sodium: 532 mg
Fried Chicken Joint: Original recipe drumstick
with skin removed, coleslaw, root beer
Phosphorus: 111 mg; potassium: 270 mg; sodium: 470 mg
Donut shop: Egg, cheese, and sausage burrito, coffee
Phosphorus: 388 mg; potassium: 332 mg; sodium: 813 mg
Restaurant: Salmon, green beans, rice, tea
Phosphorus: 277 mg; Potassium: 649 mg;
Sodium: 54 mg
Remember, French fries are high in potassium and dark
sodas are high in phosphorus!
Removing skin from the chicken saves a lot of sodium.
Although root beer is a dark soda, it doesn’t have a high
phosphorus content like other dark sodas.
Remember to skip the orange juice – it has lots of
potassium!