What is in a Hot Dog?

Is a healthy hot dog possible? A look at ingredients and calories in a hot dog and hot dog buns, plus how to choose a healthier hot dog.

Sure, hot dogs are not health food—but a hot-off-the-grill juicy hot dog is one of summer’s great pleasures. The good news is that the calories in a hot dog make it the calorie bargain of the barbecue: you’re better off with a 100- to 150-calorie dog on a bun than with a 230-calorie burger or 285-calorie bratwurst. (But watch out for jumbo, stadium and bun-length dogs, which have more of everything—including calories, fat and sodium.) With a well-chosen hot dog, whole-wheat bun and fresh toppings, you can make the best of the wurst. Here’s what to look for when it comes to hot dog nutrition—and what to lose.

—Joyce Hendley, Contributing Editor

Bad Hot Dog: Avoid Salty Dogs »