Healthy hot dogs to buy?

Fitnessman168
Fitnessman168 Posts: 85 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So I'm really craving a hot dog but I know how bad they are for you. Is there any healthy hot dog brand out there? Please let me know?

Replies

  • kstand0053
    kstand0053 Posts: 15 Member
    I get the Ballpark LEAN franks. Only 5 grams of fat for one, and then pair it with a 100% whole grain bun (I prefer Kroger Brand, but any is good)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Depends on your definition of healthy. For me an organic hotdog will be healthier than a low fat hotdog filled with nitrates. Personally, I stick to Applegate Farms or Trader Joe's, and often have the turkey hot dogs.

    Which reminds me I haven't had any in a while. Hmmm.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    No food is "bad" for you, unless you have allergies or possibly blood pressure problems and need to avoid sodium. You can eat anything you want in moderation.

    Have a hot dog or two. Make them fit into your goals, enjoy them and don't worry about it.
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I got the Simply Balanced chicken hot dogs at Target. 70 calories, 3 grams of fat and 11 grams of protein is pretty decent, I think, and they taste good. They're not rubbery, and they're nitrate free, if you're worried about that kinda thing. Why are hot dogs "bad" for you?

    ETA I only eat fish and fowl, otherwise I'd be eating a Hebrew National. :smile:
  • sed55
    sed55 Posts: 3
    There's no such thing!
  • BrienJD
    BrienJD Posts: 541 Member
    Ballpark turkey franks. Only 45 cals each and they don't taste half bad either.
  • tlcarolinagirl
    tlcarolinagirl Posts: 1,700 Member
    Ballpark turkey franks. Only 45 cals each and they don't taste half bad either.

    This is what I use when I have a hot dog craving.
  • DannPM31
    DannPM31 Posts: 32
    There's no such thing!

    Bingo
  • jorasims
    jorasims Posts: 75 Member
    It is SO tough to find a healthy hotdog. You have to weigh your options. When we eat them we do Hebrew National 97% fat free...45 calories a piece and pretty good!
  • toadg53
    toadg53 Posts: 302 Member
    Just for the heck of it, I googled healthy hot dog. AND the two mentioned ARE the best you can get. The Applegate was the best all beef hot dog. and the Ballpark fat-free lean dog was the best low fat dog. Good call, gals!! The best bun was Ezekiel and the worst bun was Sara Lee. I always buy Ezekiel bread, but have never been able to find the buns, either hot dog or hamburger.
  • RatherBeOutside
    RatherBeOutside Posts: 24 Member
    HEBREW NATIONALS ARE THE BEST HOTDOGS.. NON-FAT, REDUCED FAT, FULL FAT, FULL FLAVOR, GOOD QUALITY BEEF OF THE COW IS USED. THEY ARE KOSHER TOO., BLESSED! THE NON-FAT I EAT TWO AT A TIME AND IT ACTUALLY IS VERY FILLING. HMMM i NEED TO GO BUY SOME AGAIN.. WHEN ON SALE THEY ARE TWO FOR ONE! :flowerforyou:
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,261 Member
    I remember seeing part of a tooth in a hot dog from a street vendor in Mexico City.....that I would considered bad, otherwise they taste like another one.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
    Key points I would look for are lean, low sodium and natural if at all possible. You want a limited ingredients list (just meat), less sodium than the other brands next to it, and close to a 1:1 fat:protein ratio, since I believe most hot dogs are more fat than protein. Turkey may help you pick something leaner. I don't actually think such a hot dog would be a bad choice! If it exists...
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    It is SO tough to find a healthy hotdog. You have to weigh your options. When we eat them we do Hebrew National 97% fat free...45 calories a piece and pretty good!

    Never really thought about hot dogs since I started but these sound good :)

    Now I want a hot dog :(
  • nancyluckhurst3
    nancyluckhurst3 Posts: 122 Member
    Sabretts if you are where you can get them. Most Walmart's carry them now or Hebrew National. These are a ll beef and Kosher.
    So I'm really craving a hot dog but I know how bad they are for you. Is there any healthy hot dog brand out there? Please let me know?
  • Nissi51
    Nissi51 Posts: 381 Member
    I would probably either choose an all beef recognized brand or I would look for an organic hot dog. I just recently purchased a package of organic hotdogs because I was preparing wiener wraps for a treat for someone and I wanted to ensure I fed them the best quality I could

    However, If this is just a one off craving that you need to satisfy, then don't worry about it too much and get what you like and enjoy!

    Below is a site listing some organic brands that you may be able to source in your local grocery store.

    Good luck!

    http://www.organicgardening.com/living/11-best-hot-dogs?page=0,0
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I remember seeing part of a tooth in a hot dog from a street vendor in Mexico City.....that I would considered bad, otherwise they taste like another one.

    I found a clump of black fur in my hot dog I got at a baseball game once. If it weren't for the guys behind me making dirty comments, I might not have looked at it before I put it in my mouth right then. :sick:
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,261 Member
    I remember seeing part of a tooth in a hot dog from a street vendor in Mexico City.....that I would considered bad, otherwise they taste like another one.

    I found a clump of black fur in my hot dog I got at a baseball game once. If it weren't for the guys behind me making dirty comments, I might not have looked at it before I put it in my mouth right then. :sick:
    Wearing fur isn't politically correct......the nerve of some hotdogs.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Polish sausage or a Bratwurst. If you must hotdog I would say Hebrew National all beef franks are pretty decent. Personally, none of that is going to be the best from a nutritional standpoint, but frankly they can easily be part of an otherwise nutritious and balanced diet. It's not like all you're eating is hotdogs and nothing else...you have to look at it in the context of your overall diet, not a singular food item...nothing on it's own is "bad" necessarily...it's when you just eat **** full time and too much of that **** that you have issues.
  • rgohm
    rgohm Posts: 294 Member
    It is SO tough to find a healthy hotdog. You have to weigh your options. When we eat them we do Hebrew National 97% fat free...45 calories a piece and pretty good!

    Never really thought about hot dogs since I started but these sound good :)

    Now I want a hot dog :(

    Yep me too
  • bartholomewpumpernickle
    bartholomewpumpernickle Posts: 18
    I would go with Bratwurst
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    I don't care about the calories - none are so bad that I can't make them IIFYM - I'd just like to find some that don't have stoopid-high sodium levels!
  • fast_eddie_72
    fast_eddie_72 Posts: 719 Member
    Ballpark turkey franks. Only 45 cals each and they don't taste half bad either.

    I'm not crazy about them plain (though they are a simple meal that you can make quickly) but I make turkey chili and put it on the turkey frank. That's darn yummy. You really only taste the chili. The hot dog is kind of for texture. So saving a mess of calories with the Ball Park frank is a good trade off.
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I remember seeing part of a tooth in a hot dog from a street vendor in Mexico City.....that I would considered bad, otherwise they taste like another one.

    I found a clump of black fur in my hot dog I got at a baseball game once. If it weren't for the guys behind me making dirty comments, I might not have looked at it before I put it in my mouth right then. :sick:
    Wearing fur isn't politically correct......the nerve of some hotdogs.

    I know! Damn wieners.
  • 257_Lag
    257_Lag Posts: 1,249 Member
    Read the labels and choose the best that are available to you! I was fortunate enough to find a local brand (Hippey) in Pennsylvania that are surprisingly "healthy"! I eat about four a week. The sodium content can be even more important that the calories or fat so read carefully.
  • fificrazy
    fificrazy Posts: 234
    No food is "bad" for you, unless you have allergies or possibly blood pressure problems and need to avoid sodium. You can eat anything you want in moderation.

    Have a hot dog or two. Make them fit into your goals, enjoy them and don't worry about it.

    ^
  • crevices
    crevices Posts: 226 Member
    i recently picked up some veggie dogs and enjoy them but everybody's different just explore some options! posters above me have good recommendations
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    Depends on your definition of healthy. For me an organic hotdog will be healthier than a low fat hotdog filled with nitrates. Personally, I stick to Applegate Farms or Trader Joe's, and often have the turkey hot dogs.

    Which reminds me I haven't had any in a while. Hmmm.

    +1 for the Applegate Farms uncured beef hotdog. 70 calories, decent macros, and real hotdog taste, unlike turkey dogs.
  • craftywitch_63
    craftywitch_63 Posts: 829 Member
    HEBREW NATIONALS ARE THE BEST HOTDOGS.. NON-FAT, REDUCED FAT, FULL FAT, FULL FLAVOR, GOOD QUALITY BEEF OF THE COW IS USED. THEY ARE KOSHER TOO., BLESSED! THE NON-FAT I EAT TWO AT A TIME AND IT ACTUALLY IS VERY FILLING. HMMM i NEED TO GO BUY SOME AGAIN.. WHEN ON SALE THEY ARE TWO FOR ONE! :flowerforyou:

    According to my son, this ^^^

    I'm a vegetarian so I occasionally have an Yves soy dog when I'm really craving a hot dog.

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