Diets in Review Blog » hot dogs

Salmon is Cheaper than Hot Dogs

Rebecca — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:00:41 +0000

Still think you can’t afford to eat healthy? Think again! Hands down one of my greatest pet peeves is when people say they can’t afford to eat healthy. Whether it’s choosing a $1 candy bar in lieu of a 17 cent banana or buying a $3 coffee instead of a 50 cent low fat yogurt, people make food choices every day that don’t make nutrition a priority. But would you ever think that salmon, which is rich in omega-3 healthy fats to promote heart health and brain health, would be cheaper than hot dogs made with who knows what?

Check out this table that cost-compares sources of protein. Salmon comes out well above hot dogs, ground beef and ham for “cost per pound.”

Note that the cheapest protein (soy) is also the “greenest.” Soy, along with other plants, is easier on the environment because it doesn’t unleash methane gasses that animals do. In addition, a lacto-ovo-vegeterian (milk, eggs permitted) diet has been evaluated and found to be more sustainable than meat-based diets because it requires less energy, land, and water resources than meat-based diets. (Am J Clin Nutr 89: 1699S-1703S, 2009). Soy contains no cholesterol and very little fat which makes it very heart-friendly as well.

When compared as providing cost per gram of protein, low quality meats are among the most expensive items; not to mention they contain far more fat and saturated fat – which is less heart-healthy. So do yourself a favor, pick up some salmon and grill it. Enjoy salmon over a bed of greens and some red skin potatoes. Buy some soy crumbles and use them in pasta sauce with crushed tomatoes for an inexpensive and affordable meal.

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Salmon is Cheaper than Hot Dogs

Does a Healthy Hot Dog Exist?

Carmen — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:45:11 +0000

I’ve got kids. We spend lots of time at the pool, which means that we spend lots of time eating at summer time barbecues. For most of my kids, just like many children in America, this means one thing – hot dogs! There’s nothing more social than a cookout, and nothing more ubiquitous than hot dogs on the grill. Yummy, easy to cook, classic, and convenient to eat. But we all know (or should know!) that they aren’t the best choice for out daily intake. So I ask, is there a way to keep them in your diet and reduce the harm? Let’s take a look.

There are more than a few reasons hot dogs aren’t good for you – they are high in fat and calories, the meat content is sometimes questionable, and the inclusion of nitrates (a known carcinogen) added to keep the hot dog pink and free from botulism. But they taste so good, and the reality is that summer time equals hot dogs. How can we make this not so good choice better?

There are some delicious alternatives to the standard hot dog available.

What about low-fat chicken or turkey dogs? Healthy Choice and Ball Park make low-fat choices that rate high on the taste scale.
Applegate Farms sells an organic beef hot dog that contains no nitrates and is lower in fat.
Trader Joe’s sells a store brand that is yummy.
Vegan or soy dogs can be a good alternative.

Choose a whole wheat bun, ketchup and mustard free of high fructose corn syrup, and you have a lunch that is healthy and delicious!

Now, if only there was a way to make all the side dishes low in calories and fat free, I think I’d enjoy barbecues even more!

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Does a Healthy Hot Dog Exist?

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Yields Frightening Nutrition Facts

Brandi — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:04 +0000

Clearly no one signs up for an eating contest of any kind with the goal of minding their portion sizes. For participants in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, an annual 4th of July event, the more you eat the better. Each year two men continually beat the rest of the contestants and battle it out for the infamous hot dog title.

We all know that whatever is in a hot dog is questionable, but do you think Joey Chestnut, of the U.S., and Takeu Kobayashi, of Japan, have ever stopped to read the food label on their pile of hot dogs? We think not. The folks at CalorieLab did the math and calculated exactly what the nutritional aftermath looks like when you eat 66 hot dogs on 66 buns (the total consumed by Chestnut in the 2007 event).

That tallies up to 6,600 grams of hot dogs and buns, 14.5 pounds, eaten in a regulation time of 10 minutes! After reading this, we dare you to keep down your hot dogs.

19,600 Calories (about 10 days’ worth of calories)
1,280g Fat (that’s 2.82 pounds)
490g Saturated Fat (1.08 pounds of the unhealthy fat)
43,410mg Sodium (1.53 oz, or 1,800 times the RDA)

There’s no telling what kind of health repercussions these two hot dog connoisseurs face afterward. Tummy aches are sure to ensue, and hopefully a lot of fruits and vegetables!

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Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Yields Frightening Nutrition Facts