Does it make sense to eat “healthy” hot dogs?

hot dog The season is officially over. As the weather heats up and we weigh the pros and cons of stuffing our faces with savory hot dogs on perfectly toasted buns with ketchup, mustard and sauerkraut, we have to wonder: How much better are these hot dogs? and sausages at the grocery store that Does it include labels like low fat, organic, vegetarian/vegan, low sodium, natural and the list goes on? Are they really that much healthier than a traditional hot dog?

In our never-ending quest to consume hot dogs all summer long without wreaking havoc on our health, we consulted nutritionists to find out what they had to say.

Here’s the truth about healthy hot dogs.

We have good news. According to the nutritionists we consulted, healthy hot dogs do exist.

LightLife Hot Dogs they are my favorite Amy Goldsmith, a registered dietitian and owner of Kindred Nutrition, told HuffPost. They taste great, and because they’re plant-based, they have 0 grams of saturated fat and total fat, while providing 8 grams of protein.

Marissa Meshulama registered dietitian in New York, estApplegate Organics Turkey Hot Dogs. They are made with high quality ingredients such as organic turkey meat and simple spices. All the meat is humanely raised, which is also healthier for the consumer, he said. In general, humanely raised animals have better access to nutrient-dense foods, thus providing consumers with more vitamins and minerals. Also, meat products from humanely raised animals typically contain less saturated fat and more polyunsaturated fat.

Certified dietician Stephanie Dunne it’s also Team Applegate Organics. I love that I understand all the ingredients on the list, that they are organic and that the animals are raised humanely, she said. In addition, they do not contain gluten or casein, so those with allergies or sensitivities to these proteins can enjoy them. They also have delicious turkey and chicken hot dogs for those looking to lower their overall or saturated fat intake.

But you have to pay attention to the labels.

Bottom line: There are good, healthy hot dogs out there, but there are also impostors. You should be wary of hot dogs marketed as healthy that aren’t.

Many packages have claims like no fillers! and no MSG! Dunne said. While both of these facts are good, people should always read the ingredients and nutrition facts label to make sure they are making the healthiest selection possible. For example, a package of sausage may claim no fillers! on the front, but still contains 26 grams of fat and multiple preservatives.

Goldsmith added that just because a hot dog is made from chicken or turkey doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier. I think people tend to think that hot dogs that are labeled organic or made with chicken or turkey are naturally healthier, he said. Although they may be lower in fat and slightly less saturated, they are still high in sodium.

Excess sodium intake (more than 1,500 milligrams per day) increases the risk of life-threatening health problems such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, stomach cancer and more, according to the American Heart Association. Just because a hot dog is organic or made with chicken doesn’t mean it’s automatically low sodium, so always check your labels.

Let’s talk about vegan and vegetarian hot dogs

At first glance, vegan and vegetarian hot dogs may seem healthier than meat. Plant-based products are always better, right? Not necessarily.

Plant-based hot dogs are a great alternative for people who prefer to avoid meat, for whatever reason, Dunne said. However, regardless of the filling source, the healthiest hot dogs will be those with low sodium, reasonable fat, and natural ingredients. From a health perspective (rather than moral or based on taste preference), I don’t recommend substituting a plant-based hot dog that’s high in sodium, added sugar, and has a long list of ingredients I don’t understand .

Goldsmith agrees, saying that while plant-based hot dogs will generally be lower in saturated fat, that’s not always the case and other ingredients matter, too. There are specific things you want to evaluate, he said. First, how much saturated fat and total fat does it have? How much sodium and how much protein?

As with any hot dog you buy, reading the label on vegetarian and vegan hot dogs will always be important. A vegan hot dog loaded with sodium is not necessarily better than a turkey or chicken hot dog that includes less salt.

How often can you eat healthy hot dogs?

The good news is that you can buy hot dogs that are somewhat healthy. The bad news? You probably shouldn’t be eating them every day yet.

Like all food groups, everything is good in moderation, Goldsmith said. As a dietitian, I recommend focusing on a variety of protein sources. This can vary between poultry, pork, beef, fish and plant-based proteins. My rule of thumb is to not repeat a source more than twice a week.

Dunne gets more specific, saying that when they pack her daughters’ lunches, hot dogs make it into her lunch box, but not every day. I give my daughter a hot dog once a week in her lunch box as it’s a source of protein I know she’ll eat, and I wouldn’t hesitate to give her another on the weekend if she needed it, she said. However, since it has a little more sodium than other protein sources, I make sure to balance it out with crunchy peas or creamy homemade coleslaw.

When making decisions about food frequency, Dunne stresses that it’s always important to consider the big picture. Although certain hot dog options at the grocery store are healthier than the real thing, eating them every day would likely contain too much sodium for the week. So if you want to eat them a few times a week, make sure you balance them out with low-sodium options.

To answer the initial question posed, it does make sense to eat healthy hot dogs. They are a good source of protein, and some brands are significantly lower in saturated fat and sodium than the truth. You probably shouldn’t be eating them every day yet, but hey, take our wins where we can.

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