Weight Maven

I read a post last week on Primal Toad about easy paleo meal planning. In the protein category, Toad listed Applegate Farms hot dogs, saying:

These hot dogs are organic and 100% grass-fed. The only ingredients are beef and spices. … They are fully cooked and so I simply cut them up and add to my salad or to my egg scramble. They are great as a snack too and I am sure for traveling!

I got kinda excited about this, as I’ve been a big fan of Applegate’s cold cuts for a while now. They make a very easy protein source for a fast lunch or dinner; their roasted turkey, for example, has 10g of protein/serving, 3 servings per pack. And I use their roast beef as a wrap for the braunschweiger I got from US Wellness. Yum!

So I really liked the idea of adding some healthy hot dogs to the mix. However, after picking up a pack of their beef hot dogs, I learned that each hot dog is 6g of protein and 6 g of fat. I was surprised by the fat content, but then found out that Applegate’s are actually lower in fat compared to other brands (a Hebrew National hot dog is 14g of fat).

Who knew hot dogs had so much fat in them?

Now, on the bright side, this suggests that Applegate’s hot dogs would make a good fat source in the diet, especially since they’re made from grass-fed beef. But for me, for now, they won’t be a go-to protein source. I’ve put mine into the freezer to save for a summer barbecue!

Which brings me to the incredible, edible egg. Hate to break it to you, but it’s not much of a protein powerhouse either (despite what the folks at Kashi would like you to believe).

A large egg has about 6g of protein. So if you have a three-egg omelette, you’re certainly in the ballpark for a meal’s worth of protein. Me, I typically add a couple of eggs to my salad … but I do so for the amazing nutrients in the egg yolk, not for the protein.