Curly, waffle, shoestring, and smiley french fries come in all shapes and sizes. They can be a delicious side dish for your favorite meal. Despite their deliciousness, they are often high in sodium and, therefore, not often considered kidney-friendly. While fast-food french fries can be a tricky option for those with CKD, other french fries can be kidney-friendly. Let’s dive into which options can fit in a kidney-friendly diet.
Nutrients to keep in mind when enjoying french fries
Yes, french fries can be enjoyed when you have chronic kidney disease. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Potassium, sodium, and phosphorus can all be nutrients of concern when it comes to french fries.
These are nutrients that you may need to limit if you have chronic kidney disease. When you have CKD, your kidneys cannot always filter out extra nutrients that you get from food. When this happens, these nutrients can start to build up in your blood and become harmful for your kidneys and your other organs.
Potassium and Kidney-Friendly French Fries
Potatoes contain potassium, therefore french fries are considered a high-potassium food. It’s important to remember that not everyone with CKD needs a potassium restriction. However, if you do need a potassium restriction, a great way to reduce the potassium content in your potatoes is to double boil your potatoes.
You can double-boil your potatoes by boiling them twice for 5-10 minutes while draining the water in between. Be sure to check with your doctor and healthcare team to make sure you are eating the right amount of potassium for your kidneys.
Phosphorus and Kidney-Friendly French Fries
French fries often contain sodium and phosphorus as well. Salt is often added to french fries to add flavor. So, it’s important to be mindful of your portion size and where you get your french fries to make sure you are choosing lower sodium options.
Check out a kidney dietitian’s lower sodium french fry options below.
Phosphate Additives and Kidney-Friendly French Fries
Many frozen french fries and fast food french fries often have phosphate additives added to them to help preserve them too. Phosphate additives can contribute to your blood phosphorus levels and put you at risk for high phosphorus if you have CKD. It’s important to avoid phosphate additives as much as possible with CKD.
Check out a kidney dietitian’s favorite phosphate additive-free french fries below. When checking a food item for phosphate additives, be sure to read the ingredient list for anything with “PHOS” in it. Anything with “PHOS” in it is considered a phosphate additive should be avoided if possible.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
It matters how french fries are made too! French fries from restaurants or fast food places are often deep fried. Deep-fried foods contain less heart-healthy fats and contribute to cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Making your french fries at home using an oven or air fryer can be helpful. You can also buy frozen french fries and bake them in your oven. Try using heart-healthy oils like avocado, olive, or canola oils when making homemade french fries, too. Check out a kidney dietitian’s favorite french fry options below.
Kidney-Friendly French Fries Options
Homemade:
Frozen:
- Cascadian Farms Crinkle Cut Fries
- Alexia House Cut Fries
- Alexia Yukon Select Fries
- 365 Crinkle Cut Fries No Salt Added
- 365 Organic Shoestring Cut Fries No Salt Added
- Strong Roots Proper Fries
The Bottom Line for Kidney-Friendly French Fries
French fries can be a kidney-friendly option when you have chronic kidney disease. It’s important to keep in mind your portion size and where you’re getting your french fries. Being mindful of sodium, potassium, and phosphate additives is key! Try making your french fries at home or using phosphate additive-free, low-sodium frozen french fries for a kidney-friendly option.
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