Search Foods
Home › Guides › ordering at fast food restaurants

Fast Food with CKD: The Smarter Drive-Through Order

20 foods rated from this table

What to know about fast food with CKD

Fast food is the most sodium-dense eating environment in the American diet: fries, sauces, processed patties and sodas stack the three minerals quickly. The database's prepared-foods and snacks-sweets ratings show why — processed items are the category with the fewest friendly foods. The goal of a fast-food visit is damage control: plain items, small portions, no drink upgrade.

How to order at the drive-through

Order the plain burger or grilled chicken sandwich without cheese and sauces, small fries or a side salad, and water or unsweetened tea. Skip the combo meal, which bundles a large drink and fries that push the sodium and sugar totals.

Ratings for ordering at fast food restaurants

Kidney-friendlyOil, soybean, salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, sesame, salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, cottonseed, salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, safflower, salad or cooking, linoleicK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, safflower, salad or cooking, high oleicK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, corn, industrial and retail, all purpose salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, peanut, salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, soybean, salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, industrial, canola with antifoaming agent, principal uses salads, woks and light fryingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, industrial, canola for salads, woks and light fryingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyFat, chickenK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, soybean, salad or cooking, and cottonseedK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, olive, salad or cookingK 1 · P 0 · Na 2 mgKidney-friendlyCarbonated beverage, cream sodaK 1 · P 0 · Na 12 mgKidney-friendlyBeverages, carbonated, grape sodaK 1 · P 0 · Na 15 mgKidney-friendlyBeverages, carbonated, lemon-lime soda, no caffeineK 1 · P 0 · Na 10 mgKidney-friendlyBeverages, carbonated, club sodaK 2 · P 0 · Na 21 mgKidney-friendlySalad dressing, home recipe, vinegar and oilK 8 · P 0 · Na 1 mgKidney-friendlySoup, chicken noodle, dry, mix, prepared with waterK 13 · P 12 · Na 229 mgKidney-friendlySalad dressing, sweet and sourK 33 · P 3 · Na 208 mg

Practical tips

Related guides

Condiments & Oils food ratingsBeverages food ratingsCKD diet guideLow potassium dietLow sodium dietDialysis dietHow we rate foods

Frequently asked questions

Is a plain hamburger okay for CKD?

Plain beef patties rate moderate-to-friendly in the database. The cheese, sauces and bun are where sodium accumulates, so a plain burger with lettuce is a workable fast-food choice.

Can I have fries at a fast-food restaurant?

Fries are rated moderate-to-higher risk mainly for sodium. A small order as part of a plain-protein meal is manageable; a large fries-plus-soda combo pushes the day quickly.

What is the best fast-food order for CKD?

A plain burger or grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad and water. The friendly list below shows which menu items stay inside the daily limits.