We all know they aren’t good for us, but sometimes a hot dog just hits the spot. Can you say “barbecues” and “ballgames”? The frankfurter is right up there in the American Hall of Fame with apple pie.
Eating a hot dog at a BBQ or ballpark can cost you plenty, and I’m not talking about the green stuff. Some of the worst hot dogs you can choose are the big four-ounce franks sometimes called “colossal,” “quarter pounder,” or “dinner” franks. One of Nathan’s Dinner Beef Franks will run you 340 calories and 30 grams of fat. A Hebrew National quarter-pound beef frank contains 340 calories and 32 grams of fat. Even the Ball Park Grillmaster Hearty Beef Frank adds 250 calories and 21 grams of fat (9 g saturated fat). And that’s before the bun and all the condiments you add.
But better frankfurter choices are in the supermarket. It depends on your taste preferences; however, you generally want to have enough fat in the hot dog that it still looks and tastes like a hot dog—but not too much. Ball Park Light Franks are a perfect example. Each contains 100 calories, 7 grams fat, and 3 grams saturated fat. Serve it with a whole wheat bun, a tablespoon of chopped onion, and a couple teaspoons of mustard.
Nutritional analysis: 225 calories (37.5% from fat), 10 grams protein, 26 grams carbohydrate, 9.4 grams fat, 3.3 grams saturated fat, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 4 grams fiber, 829 milligrams sodium.
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Labor Day Hot Dog Dilemma
the ball parks are good, my favorite. and beleive it or not my wife fed me some tofu weeners today at the picnic and i didnt now the differnce. well maybe the relish helpeed but still.
Yes, totally hate the whole "what's in it" thought of eating a hotdog. But, as a big baseball fan I am tempted to mau one down at the Ballpark.
It has to be grill tho. That takes any impurities there may be out of the dog. Thanks for the nutritional info. Maybe I'll stick to the Nachos next time.
Hot dogs may be as American as apple pie, but after hearing my husband's description of working in a meat-packing plant, I'll never eat another one. Yuck.
Not very many novelty foods are good for you. But we have to splurge once in awhile. It is hard to eat healthy from a concession stand.
What annoys me are those places which torture the senses by providing delightful aromas of unhealthy pleasures. Besides the dread of "what's in it" I've read that some of the extras like monosodium glutimate (MSG) and sodium nitrite might be contributing to my migranes!
My work-around to this dilemma is to use organic sausages instead of hot dogs. I look for the ones without the questionable extras and they come in lots of yummy flavors! Don't tell anybody but I bring my own grilled brats to the movies B-)
Well, yes, if you can grill them, and add the fixin's, they're not too bad. But then again...everything in moderation, right?