Guilt-Free Hot Dogs and Hamburgers

Yes, you can enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers on your healthful eating plan.

By Hope S. Warshaw, R.D., CDE

Social Staples

During the spring, summer, and fall, your social calendar is likely to be sprinkled with cookouts, visits to street fairs, or pool parties with the grill a-sizzle. And the main course, of course, is hot dogs, sausages, or hamburgers.

"Nothing tastes better than a hot dog downed during an inning of baseball or a brat at the Polish polka festival," says Patti Urbanski, M.Ed., R.D., CDE, a dietitian and diabetes educator at the Duluth Family Practice Center in Minnesota.

Fortunately, you can relish these rituals without ruining your meal plan.

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Comments

Comments (7)

Dogdays wrote:

I also use Smart Dogs and find them very tasty.

6/29/2010 02:00:23 PM Report Abuse

edwardgeralds wrote:

very good infomation

3/27/2010 07:33:12 AM Report Abuse

rosemluna wrote:

Thank you for the "Smart Dogs" tip. When you're craving a hot dog once in a while, it's good to know there is a healthy alternative!

2/22/2010 09:10:14 AM Report Abuse

tphinney2549813 wrote:

Still there is 380 mg sodium in just one dog.

2/17/2010 12:46:57 PM Report Abuse

parisio910@aol.com wrote:

Lou Marino 12/30/2009 There's a product called "Smart Dogs," a soy and veggie based frank that cooks in two minutes after dropping them into a pan of boiling water. I find them delicious topped with mustard, relish and Vadalia onions. Under 120 calories (counting the bun and dog) and zero fat. I eat one a day for lunch, with a bowl of soup and/or a small salad. Try it.

12/30/2009 03:09:32 PM Report Abuse