With the keto diet being as popular as it is in the U.S. today, chances are that you’ve not only heard of this diet, but you might have also tried it yourself.
The keto diet, short for the ketogenic diet, includes foods that are high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbs and sugar. This diet encourages consuming natural whole foods to give you more energy and help you lose fat and build lean muscle.
Many people are attracted to the keto diet because it is not as restrictive as other diets and permits rich, indulgent foods that many plans don’t allow. These include items like red meat, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, full-fat dairy products, nuts, fats, and sauces.
However, a common question for many people is: do hot dogs fit into a keto diet? Especially when the grilling season is in full swing, it can be difficult to resist the temptation of a juicy hot dog.
To find out more about this diet and learn whether you can eat hot dogs on keto without offsetting your progress, keep reading.
What Is Keto?
Today, many people follow a keto diet as a way to lose weight and tone their bodies. But this diet plan was actually first used in the 1900s to treat epilepsy. Eating a ketogenic diet helped keep glucose levels in the brain stable, which reduced the frequency of seizures for many patients.
Some doctors still use the keto diet as a form of treatment for brain disorders, but this diet has also made its way into the mainstream. It is thought to aid healthy heart function and long-term weight loss.
A keto diet is said to help you lose weight by promoting ketosis, a metabolic process that involves burning fat from your body and from your diet for energy. To encourage ketosis, individuals restrict certain food groups and scale others up.
A keto diet typically encourages eating higher-fat foods while reducing high-carb foods. Although different versions of keto exist, generally the daily macronutrient intake to enter ketosis falls into the following ranges: 60-80% fats, 10-30% protein, and 5-10% carbohydrates.
People can adjust this ratio to meet different goals and needs for their bodies. For example, those prioritizing muscle gain might increase their protein intake and those who live highly active lifestyles might increase their carbohydrate intake.
Experts recommend working with a dietician or nutritionist to determine the right nutrient percentages for your body and goals.
What Can You Eat on a Keto Diet?
Keto is somewhat restrictive, but you don’t have to cut out all of your favorite foods to follow it. Basically, you want to keep highly-processed and high-carb ingredients to a minimum and eat plenty of nutrient-dense, low-carb foods.
What to Eat
- Meats such as beef, poultry, fish, and seafood—naturally cured meats such as sausage, ham, and hot dogs that are rich in fats and protein
- Eggs
- Full-fat dairy products such as cheese and yogurt
- Non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, avocado, spinach, cauliflower, and broccoli
- Natural fats such as butter, olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil
- High-fiber nuts and seeds such as pecans, walnuts, and sunflower seeds
What to Avoid
- Grains such as bread and pasta
- Carb-dense vegetables such as carrots and peas
- Starchy foods such as corn, legumes, and potatoes
- Sugar-rich fruits such as apples and oranges
Many dieters feel better after going keto than they did before. Some people find this diet full of natural fats, protein, fiber, and nutrients provides long-lasting energy and increased levels of focus.
Are Hot Dogs Allowed?
So now to the question you’ve been wondering about: are hot dogs keto?
Fortunately for fans of barbecues and baseball, it is possible to enjoy hot dogs while on the keto diet! However, you want to choose the best hot dog possible to keep to your keto diet plan. Coleman Natural uncured all-beef hot dogs are made from beef raised in the U.S.A. without added hormones or antibiotics. And because our beef hot dogs are uncured, they contain only naturally-occurring nitrites found in cultured celery powder and sea salt. They’re also free from fillers, binders, alternate proteins, and added chemicals that keto diet followers should avoid.
As far as carbs are concerned, you don’t have to worry! Hot dogs are low in carbs because most are just made of beef trimmings, salt, and seasonings. If you’d like to know exactly what nutrients you’re consuming when you eat a hot dog, just check the Coleman Natural label. We put everything you need to know about our products on our packaging labels for complete transparency.
How to Eat Hot Dogs on a Keto Diet
Many people following the keto diet enjoy bunless hot dogs topped with veggies, chili, or cheese for a quick and tasty meal. You can also purchase or make keto-friendly hot dog buns or use a slice of cheese, piece of lettuce, or portobello mushroom to hold your hot dog.
But don’t be afraid to think outside the “bun” when you’re eating hot dogs on the keto diet. If you know how to adapt recipes to be keto-friendly, you can eat hot dogs in a variety of ways and still stay on track with your weight loss or maintenance goals.
Here are a few of our favorite keto-friendly ways to enjoy hot dogs:
- Chili Cheese Dog Pockets: make this recipe keto by swapping the traditional pita with a low-carb pita or tortilla—try using almond flour or coconut flour to make your own
- Deconstructed Chicago Dog Salad: choose pickles and peppers with no added sugar for this recipe and you’re good to go
- Hot Dog Fried Rice: this fried rice is made more nutritious—and keto-compliant—with cauliflower fried rice
Choosing and Cooking Hot Dogs
When you’re preparing keto hot dog recipes, be mindful of how you’re cooking your hot dogs as well. You can add on healthy fats by frying your hot dogs in a keto-approved cooking fat or try grilling or baking to avoid added fats.
Choosing all-natural hot dogs is also important, as they provide delicious hot dog flavor without unnecessary added ingredients. The good news is that Coleman Natural uncured beef hot dogs contain no artificial ingredients like sodium nitrite or corn syrup. What they do include is 100% high-quality beef raised by independent American family farmers.
So the next time you need a filling, crowd-pleasing, and keto-friendly meal, turn to Coleman Uncured Beef Hot Dogs!
Learn more about how meats can fit into diet plants:
