Ok, it’s true. Hot dogs aren’t exactly health food. They’re fairly high in sodium and we’re all supposed to be limiting the amount of processed meat we’re eating, but the fact remains that they’re delicious. And, they’re also a summertime staple, especially for backyard barbecues and family gatherings. In fact, the average American eats 70 hot dogs each year!
Instead of ditching the dog, I decided I would just kick up the health quotient a bit by adding some fresh, colorful toppings. Sure, they do add some antioxidants and nutrients, but they also add a ton of flavor. And it may just be another way for you to encourage your kids to eat more veggies. Leo actually loved the Cobb dog. Guess we’ll be dressing up our hot dogs all summer long.
If you’re hosting a party and want to offer guests some options, I recommend choosing 3 to 4 styles and putting out ingredients for those in small bowls that are grouped together. Your friends will have a ton of fun dressing up their dogs. Here’s to a long, delicious summer!
- Ball Park: Ketchup + yellow or spicy mustard + chopped onion (shown)
- Mexican: Guacamole + cilantro + queso fresco + salsa verde
- Banh mi: Mini cucumber slices + shredded carrots + cilantro + spicy mayo + chopped peanuts (shown)
- BBQ: Barbecue sauce + pickle slices + baked beans
- Buffalo: blue cheese crumbles + hot sauce + chopped celery
- Crunchy: shredded Napa cabbage + quick-pickled cucumbers + dill
- Californian: chopped dried figs or dates + chopped walnuts + feta crumbles + caramelized red onions
- Cobb: avocado + chopped egg + bacon crumbles + chopped Romaine (shown)
- Thai: peanut sauce + bean sprouts + scallions