Vegetarian meat substitutes including veggie burgers, veggie dogs and vegetarian chicken products have come a long way in the past decade when it comes to flavor and availability, but they may not be appropriate for kidney disease patients.
 
Many of these meat substitutes are soy-based and contain less protein than their counterparts, but their sodium content can be problematic. The average veggie burger contains between 300 to 500 mg of sodium per serving. This amount does not include bread and condiments. Products with black beans or extra cheese can also contain high amounts of potassium and phosphorus.
 
If you are interested in vegetarian meat substitutes, please discuss your options with a renal dietitian.

This article originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of AAKP Diet Tips & Bits.