How many mothers know that hot dogs are bad for kids?

Question

So many mothers feed their kids hot dogs and they are so unhealthy and dangerous. Please visit the links.

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/food/hotdogs.htm

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/505_choking.html

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20041011/kids-choking-hazards-may-go-unnoticed

Answer 1

My mother ate hot dogs as a kid, she’s still alive and kickin’. I ate lots of hot dogs as a kid, I’m still going strong. And my son eats hot dogs and LOVES hot dogs, and I’m going to keep feeding them to him.

They also said that you’re supposed to put your newborn on your back to prevent SIDS. Or is it your stomach? No wait, back? No, stomach!

A choking risk? Sure, if you give them the entire hot dog they can choke. I cut hot dogs into the smallest of pieces and my kid has a full set of teeth. He's not choking on hot dogs anymore than he's choking on yogurt.

Answer 2

Nearly every food made has gotten a bad rap at some time or another.  Hot dogs are one of kids' favorite foods and if served properly and are accompanied by nutritious sides can be a legitimate part of a child's healthy diet.  You can buy hot dogs that are made with less fat or even fat-free ones made from turkey or chicken.  If you cut a hot dog lengthwise in 1/2 than again into 1/4's before slicing it into smaller pieces the choking hazard is reduced.  You can also skin a hot dog or buy skinless ones to reduce the choking risk, too.  As with every food, moderation is key and no food is inherently "bad" in the sense you should never eat it.  If you have ever fed a toddler, you will know that it is common for most to go through a stage where they will hold out for that one favorite food and refuse everything else.  Hot dogs are one of those perennial favorites of kids of all ages.  I have been a mom for 29 years to 4 kids plus I am grandma to 16 month old grandson and I have provided child care in my home for 21 years.  I have prepared and served a lot of hog dogs.  No one has ever choked.  I always serve hot dogs as part of a meal that also contains a variety of vegetables and fruits plus a whole grain product.  Hot dogs do contain a high amount of fat (unless you buy the reduced fat or fat-free ones) and their sodium content is quite high.  However, many other kids' favorites also contain a high sodium content such as boxed macaroni and cheese, canned pasta, and soups.  You don't have to eliminate any of these favorites from a child's diet, but they should be served in moderation.  There are certainly families who steer clear of anything processed and that is a good way to go for them, but that doesn't fit everyone's lifestyles or personal preferences.  When it comes to reducing the risk of cancer, the studies are ongoing and new and varied data comes out in medical journals all the time.  If you read the 3 links you provided, you will see that they are from the years 2003, 2004, and 2005.  Even though it seems like such a short time ago, in the field of medical study, there have been numerous studies done as well as changes in foods, such as hot dogs.  I think if you did some research on more current web sites you will find many brands of prepared meats have improved their hot dogs, bacon, and lunch meat products by eliminating or decreasing their usage of nitrates, which is the ingredient thought to be a carcinogen.

Answer 3

Hot dogs are bad for kids? So are cup cakes! Many foods become choking risks if parents don't serve them in pieces of appropriate size and supervise their children during meals and snacks. Give it a rest already!

Answer 4

i am sure plenty of people know that some hotdogs are not so safe but some are just pure beef and that is fine to eat its the processed and mixed hotdogs that arent so great for the body. parents just need to learn how ot read the ingrediants if there is more than 5 ingredients in the item i usually dont buy it just means its processed.

Answer 5

First, you can cut them length wise into 4 strips and then to bite size bits. Second, everything causes cancer. Bottles, chemicals on the produce, "unwashed" apples in apple sauce. The list is endless. Lots of foods have a high choke risk-if you allow them to run wild and eat at the same time. Look at the marshmellow game. I say if my son loves hot dogs and we are getting good quality dogs, then hey it saves my time and makes meal time more pleasent then yum. We use our saved time to play together and read books.  

Answer 6

Everything causes cancer.  I don't know how I survived to adulthood without dying of something.

Answer 7

Everything in moderation.

Answer 8

oh please people have been eating hot dogs for years and years. If you dig so hard into everything pretty soon you won't be able to live at all.

Answer 9

I feed my son the all-natural hotdogs. I started buying those because he is on a gluten free/casein free diet and then when I heard the cancer risks I was glad I stopped feeding him the others. It's true that it seems like cancer causes everything but my kid is a very picky eater and hot dogs are one of the few foods he'll touch. If he's going to eat something several times a week I want to know that it's safe.

Answer 10

You know, my OB doctor told me it was bad to eat hot dogs while pregnant. I always wondered, and didn't listen because it just seemed crazy. I'm sure everything is fine but why do they have hot dogs if they are so "dangerous"?

Answer 11

I used to feed my son normal Oscar Meyer Hot dogs and then I read the label... I def stopped that. I found a different kind that had 75% less sodium, 50% less fat and half of the calories! Just make sure you read the labels of food. There is always an alternative!

Answer 12

I didn't know that, but she doesnt like them anyway : )