Celebrity Chef Shares Cooking Tips For Restricted Diets at AAKP Event

Fresenius Medical Care Brings Chef Aaron McCargo Jr. to AAKP’s National Patient Meeting in Las Vegas to Inspire Patients

 WALTHAM, Mass. – Sept. 8, 2014 – People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have to be careful about what they eat to help control the progression of the disease. And patients who depend on dialysis after their CKD has progressed to kidney failure have to be especially cautious about foods that are high in salt, phosphorus, or potassium. That’s why Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, is bringing celebrity chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. to next month’s National Patient Meeting of the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP).

Chef McCargo, star of Food Network’s “Big Daddy’s House,” will share some of his techniques for preparing delicious, kidney-friendly foods – including a recipe for chocolate pancakes with moon pie stuffing – during a live cooking demonstration at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, during the AAKP’s banquet dinner.

McCargo has been working with FMCNA for several years to create a variety of appetizing recipes that meet the unique dietary restrictions of patients receiving dialysis – a life-sustaining process that removes waste products and extra fluids from their blood after their kidneys have failed.

“I’m looking forward to sharing some of the cooking ideas I’ve learned,” says Chef McCargo. “Although dialysis patients do have to limit their consumption of many foods, I want to remind them that kidney-friendly cooking can still be fun, and taste great.”

“We’re thrilled that Chef McCargo is going be part of our national patient meeting,” says Gary Green, executive director of AAKP. “His sense of humor and practical, down-home cooking suggestions should help our members learn to be more comfortable in their daily food choices, and more active participants in their own health care.”

The AAKP’s National Patient Meeting, scheduled for Sept. 26-28 at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., gives patients and their families a chance to meet with health care professionals and academic experts, and learn about the latest developments in kidney disease care. Fresenius Medical Care operates 12 clinics in the Las Vegas area.

To register or get more information about the upcoming AAKP National Patient Meeting, visit the organization’s website at: https://www.aakp.org/community/programs-events/aakp-national-patient-meeting.html.

For a complete list of Chef McCargo’s dialysis-friendly recipes, as well as fitness tips, videos and other information about staying active and maintaining a healthy diet on dialysis, visit FMCNA’s Healthy Lifestyles website. To find a dialysis facility near you, call toll free at 1-888-325-5175.

About Fresenius Medical Care North America

Through its leading network of more than 2,150 dialysis facilities in North America and vascular access centers, laboratory, pharmacy and affiliated hospitals and nephrology practices, Fresenius Medical Care provides renal services to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. It is also the continent’s top producer of dialysis equipment, dialyzers and related disposable products and a major supplier of renal pharmaceuticals.

About Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr.

Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. competed on and won season four of “The Next Food Network Star” in 2008, beating out thousands of culinary hopefuls for the ultimate dream job – his own Food Network show. “Big Daddy’s House” premiered in 2008 and continues to be a success. On “Big Daddy’s House,” Aaron shares his passion for big, bold flavors and fun, family cooking, bringing a down-to-earth vibe and warm smile to the kitchen. He recently published his first cookbook, “Simply Done, Well Done.” Whether cooking for his children, relatives, friends, or even himself, big food and big fun reign supreme. FMCNA and Aaron have been working together since 2011 to encourage dialysis patients to get back in the kitchen by developing dishes with big, bold flavors that they can enjoy, while still adhering to the restrictions of their dialysis diets.

About American Association of Kidney Patients

AAKP is a voluntary non-profit organization founded by kidney patients, which for 45 years, has been dedicated to improving the quality of life of kidney patients through education, advocacy and the fostering of patient communities. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.