How healthy are all beef hot dog wieners?

Question

My 2 year old daughter loves hot dog wieners so I often give her one cut up for lunch with some bread and fruit. I'm just wondering how healthy all beef wieners are and if it's ok that she has them for lunch often.

Answer 1

My daughter gives my grandkids turkey hot dogs alot... although I always buy all-beef Kosher hot dogs (Hebrew National has some low-fat ones that are only 45 calories each).  It's not the healthiest meal, but not that unhealthy either:) ...  2-yr-olds can be very picky, so whatever she'll eat is just fine!  Make sure she has some fruit or veggies with it (my grandkids love mandarin oranges, strawberries & watermelon, especially).  Don't worry about it too much, and just be happy when she eats:)    

Answer 2

I was always raised with the idea that all beef hotdogs are way better for you. Ballparks are even selling all beef as well. If you want a different alternative, turkey hotdogs are really good too.  

Answer 3

All wieners are made from meat scraps, mostly containing fat.

None could be considered a healthy food, but kids love them.

My theory is, they can't identify the animal, so think nothing died.

Answer 4

Well, hot dogs are pretty high in sodium so you don't want to be feeding them to your little girl for every meal. But, it sounds like her diet in pretty well balanced so I wouldn't worry about it. And, by the way, all the horror stories you hear about what goes into a hot dog comes from the way they used to make 'em way back before they passed the "Pure Food and Drug Act" and the "Meat Inspection Act" here in U.S. in 1906.

Answer 5

I think you're going to get mixed answers on this one...my grandfather was a butcher in poland, and his brothers kept on doing it when they emigrated to Canada.  As a kid, we used to go visit them and they would give us the tastiest turkey, beef, etc., but never the hot dogs.  They said it was the garbage of the garbage that was in them, and too many chemicals (they were all beef).

I still love hot dogs, though, and it's one thing I'm REALLY craving right now in my pregnancy.

I think everything in moderation is ok, but you didn't mention how often your daughter eats them.

Answer 6

I wouldn't call them health food.  Lots of fat and they often still have chemicals & such.  There are some vegan ones in the refridgerated section, if she will eat those it might be better for her.  How often is often?  Once every few weeks is probably OK since the human body is an amazing machine and can handle quite a bit of junk, but three times a week is probably overloading her little body with dyes and preservatives.  If she really only likes her regular hotdogs, try saving them for special occasions.  (I admit I love a good Chili Cheese dog from the Varsity in Atlanta...yum)

Answer 7

On average, the all beef hotdogs have about 90-200 calories per dog and usually 10-18 grams of fat.  I always check the nutritional labels before I buy them and make sure i'm getting the 10g fat ones, not the 18g.  

I think every kid needs a hot dog now and then :-)