Maintaining a healthy diet is a goal for many people, but for those with chronic illnesses it can be a matter of life and death.

Fresenius Medical Care North America, the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, and Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr., star of Food Network’s Big Daddy’s House, partnered to develop tasty, satisfying and new dialysis-friendly recipes as part of FMCNA’s Healthy Lifestyle initiative aimed at helping people with chronic kidney disease live a better life on dialysis.

Fresenius Medical Care has clinics in Austell, Smyrna and Marietta. Fresenius Medical Care will expand in Cobb by bringing 120 jobs to Kennesaw.

Chicken Tacos

Ingredients:

• ¾ pound ground chicken
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
• 1 package of 8 taco shells*
• ½ cup Mexican blend natural shredded cheese**
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh scallions

Preparation:

• Brown the ground chicken in butter on medium heat along with the seasonings. 
• Fill 2 taco shells for each person with meat mixture, cilantro, scallions and cheese.

MEASURING the cheese is the key! It should be ⅛ cup per 2 tacos.

Serves 4

1 serving = 1/2 cup chicken mixture, two taco shells

Optional Serving Suggestions: Ingredients can also be served in a lettuce wrap, pressed between a flour tortilla to make a quesadilla, or tossed with spaghetti or rice.

Nutrient Analysis:  Chicken Mixture
Calories              270 calories               Trans Fat                0 grams
Protein                   19 grams               Cholesterol      85 milligrams
Carbohydrate           2 grams                Potassium     264 milligrams
Total Fat                20 grams                Phosphorus     82 milligrams
Saturated Fat           7 grams                Sodium         146 milligrams

Nutrient Analysis:  2 Taco Shells
Calories           122 calories                    Trans Fat             0 grams
Protein                 2 grams                   Cholesterol     0 milligrams
Carbohydrate      16 grams                   Potassium    46 milligrams
Total Fat               6 grams                  Phosphorus   64 milligrams
Saturated Fat       .8 grams                  Sodium           4 milligrams

Shopping tips:
* Read the labels! Some brands have as much as 170mg sodium for 2 shells; others have 0-5mg
** Natural cheese has less sodium and phosphorus than processed cheese

Take a look at more recipes from Fresenius Medical Care and Chef McCargo:

Sautéed Beef with Creamy Mushroom and Shallot Sauce

Crunchy Lemon Herbed Chicken