Submitted by Hanna Kim, Dietetics Student and Dani Renouf, RD, MSc, CDE
Eating foods that fit into a kidney-friendly diet can be a challenge at times since most foods require lower sodium content, and in some cases need to be lower in potassium and phosphate. Given most of us are cooking more at home these days due to the pandemic, getting meals on the table efficiently may require the addition of some appliances.
A food processor is a great tool for the kitchen. Chopping or shredding fresh fruits and vegetables releases flavour compounds that can increase their taste.
Moreover, using a food processor can speed up preparation for meals, so you can make a full meal in the fraction of the time it would take if you were chopping the ingredients by hand. Using a food processor for preparing vegetables quickly may motivate those of us who think they are not getting enough fibre in their diet, or not consuming the required amount of vegetables daily for overall health.
Here are the top three benefits of having a food processor in your appliance repertoire.
- Making Salads
Your food processor is a fun way to help you introduce new recipes to your kidney-friendly diet. Depending on what type of food processor you have, most food processors come with accessories that allow you to quickly shred ingredients like carrots, celery, or cabbage. A shredded bowl of such vegetables with olive oil and vinegar makes a great addition to any meal.
- Experimenting with Vegetarian Cookery
From tofu ricotta, kidney bean dip, to homemade hummus, a food processor can allow you to quickly put together delicious options to add vegetarian proteins to your diet. These proteins are high in fibre, high in protein, and lower in potassium and phosphorus, especially if you use canned, plain beans in your recipes, and tofu that does not have phosphate additives included.
- Time saving convenience
Food processor recipes are very quick and easy to make. This will help you speed up meal preparation for those busy days. In addition, it is an easy way to get more dietary fibre in your diet by adding more shredded fruits and vegetables to your diet. For a delicious and time saving tip, try this simple French Grated Carrot Salad with a Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette with your food processor.
