During Hot Dog Season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs! Depending on the brand, most hot dogs contain 10 to 15 grams of fat. Many of us make the already fatty dog worse by placing it in a nutritionally-stripped white bun and loading on sugar, sodium and fat with condiments like ketchup, sauerkraut, and cheese. Not only is the sugar, sodium and fat a concern, but nitrate, an ingredient found in many hot dogs, has been linked to serious, life-threatening diseases. 
While hot dogs are not exactly a health professional’s favorite food, you don’t have to ditch your dog this Labor Day. There are hot dog companies that are now making healthier hot dogs. These companies make hot dogs with less than five grams total fat, less than 500 mg of sodium, ones that are nitrate-free, as well as soy and veggie hot dogs. Finding these healthy dogs can be easy with some smart shopping and simple label reading.
When you’re at the grocery store, here are important hot dog guidelines to follow:
Choose a hot dog, not a Fat dog. you should first look at the total fat on the hot dog’s nutrition facts. If the total fat is over five grams you might as well call that hot dog a fat dog.
Choose hot dogs labeled “Uncured” or “No added nitrates.” look at the ingredients to see if there is nitrate in the hot dog. Nitrate may be labeled sodium nitrate, nitrite, or sodium nitrites, and all of these should be avoided.
Go for organic hot dogs. These dogs are made from organically raised animals, not treated with antibiotics or hormones. Plus they skip the nitrites and nitrates.
Pick sodium-smart dogs. Look for brands with 370 mg sodium or less. Anything over is way too much and about one fourth of the recommended amount of sodium an child or teenager should be getting in one day.
Here is a list of hot dogs that are lower in fat, lower in sodium, nitrate-free, and the healthiest options for you and your family.
- Applegate’s Farms
Organic Turkey Dog
Organic Chicken Dog
Organic Beef Dog
- Shelton’s Turkey Franks
- Organic Prairie Chicken Hot Dog
- Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Hot Dog
- Lightlife: (vegetarian options)
Smart Dogs
Tofu Pups
Veggie Dogs
After you purchase your healthy hot dogs, don’t stop there. Buy whole-wheat buns and load the hot dogs with other lower-fat foods like fresh fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, onions, and pico de gallo. Get creative and try these healthy hot dog topping ideas:
-Wrap grilled halved hot dogs in grilled whole-wheat tortillas; top with shredded fat-free cheddar, lettuce, and salsa.
-Serve boiled tofu dogs on whole-wheat buns with diced avocado and cucumber, sprouts and shredded carrot.
-Serve boiled hot dogs on whole-wheat buns with dill pickle and cucumber spears, sliced tomatoes, diced onion and yellow mustard.
- Serve boiled hot dogs on whole-wheat buns with sauteed mushrooms and onions.
Please Note – The American Academy of Pediatrics, state that hot dogs are the food most commonly associated with fatal choking among children. Many recommend not feeding hot dogs to children under 3. For children of all ages, cut up the hot dog to appropriate sizes and watch your child eat to ensure he or she does not choke.
Hi! My name is Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. and I am a pediatrician and child obesity specialist. My child weight loss program (http://www.DrWeigh.com) and I have been featured on The Today Show, GMA Health, Good Day, NY, WABC News, WNBC News, Fox 5 Morning Show, My9 News, and WPIX News. I am also a contributing blogger to the Huffington Post. My biography is included below. My book, Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, (Rodale, 2010) is available wherever books are sold. Children from 45 different states are losing weight with my online weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com).
I believe you may be interested in the article that I have attached to this e-mail. Please let me know if you are interested in using it for your website or blog. If you have other topics you would like me to write about, please also let me know and I would be happy to write something up! You can also respond if you are not interested in receiving further submissions as I only want to be helpful, not spamful!
Dr. Dolgoff’s Biography:
Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. grew up in Roslyn, New York. Dr. Dolgoff attended Princeton University where she graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Molecular Biology. She was elected to the Sigma Chi International Research Honor Society based on scientific research done at Princeton. Dr. Dolgoff earned her Reebok fitness instructor certification during this time. She taught fitness classes at Princeton University and at various gyms in the Princeton area.
Dr. Dolgoff continued her education at the NYU School of Medicine, earning the award for Outstanding Student in Pediatrics and serving as president of the NYU Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. She also founded and ran the NYU School of Medicine Step Aerobics Fitness Program and taught at Synergy Fitness Clubs in Manhattan.
Dr. Dolgoff completed her Pediatric Residency training at Columbia Presbyterian’s Children’s Hospital of New York. She has previously worked as a private practice pediatrician and is a Board Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Dolgoff’s Weigh: Child and Adolescent Weight Management practice boasts a 96% weight loss success rate. There are offices in Manhattan, N.Y. and Roslyn Heights, N.Y. There is also a national online component (www.DrWeigh.com) to the program which children all over the country have been using to lose weight.
For more information: e-mail info@drweigh.com or call 516-801-0022.
–
Joanna Dolgoff, M.D.
Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right!
Child and Adolescent Weight Management
Phone: 516-801-0022
E-Mail: info@drdolgoff.com
Website: http://www.DrDolgoff.com
Blog: http://www.DrDolgoff.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DrDolgoff
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JoannaDolgoffMD
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/jodoug
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joannadolgoff
Tags: Eating, family, Health, Joanna Dolgoff, Nutrition, Red Light Green Light