Are Corn Dogs Healthy?
Corn dogs are the classic fried food you can enjoy on a stick. The crisp exterior and soft cornbread inside makes it a delicious treat. But are corn dogs healthy? Find out below.
Corn dogs are considered to be unhealthy, because they are unbalanced and lack sufficient nutrients. They are high in fat, carbs, and sodium – so you should think twice before eating them on a regular basis.
With that said, there’s nothing wrong with having a corn dog once in a while. To learn more about the specific nutritional facts, continue reading.
Nutrition Facts
The below nutrition table represents 1 corn dog (76 grams). Remember that individual nutritional facts will vary based on brand. But this can be used as a general guideline for most corn dogs.
| Calories | 200 |
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Saturated Fat | 2.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 30mg |
| Sodium | 610mg |
| Carbohydrates | 24g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 9g |
| Protein | 7g |
Are Corn Dogs Good for You?
So, are corn dogs good for you? Most nutritionists would agree that consuming large amounts of fried food isn’t healthy. They are not only high in fat and carbs, but fried food also lacks sufficient amounts of protein.
Plus, corn dogs are also very high in sodium. Consuming too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke.
But what is considered healthy anyway? What’s healthy for me, might not be the same for you. The answer really depends on your body type, activity level, age, genetics, and a variety of other factors.
Comparing Different Body Types
Let’s use an example of two different body types. If professional basketball player LeBron James (6’9″, 250 lbs) were to eat three corn dogs, it wouldn’t really impact his body.
Sure, he might feel sluggish and bloated by all the sodium. But due to the fact that he is big and trains with intensity, 600 calories (3 servings) might be equal to one meal for him.
On the other hand, if Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (4’8″, 104 lbs) were to eat the same amount of food, she would be in a caloric surplus. This would most likely be more than double the amount of food she consumes during a normal day.
So, you can see that what is (and isn’t) healthy, varies depending on body type. There’s nothing wrong with eating like this one time. But consuming corn dogs each day like this will negatively impact performance and health.
Corn Dogs Lack Balance
It’s no secret that corn dogs are high in calories, fat, and carbs. But they are also low in the amount of protein per serving, which doesn’t exactly make them a balanced meal.
Sticking to a healthy diet is all about eating with balance. In order to build, maintain, and repair muscle, it’s important for you to prioritize protein. However, corn dogs have very low amounts of this important macronutrient.
When comparing one corn dog to a 3.5 ounce (100 gram) serving of chicken breast, the results speak for themselves. This amount of chicken has 165 calories, 3.6g fat, 0g carbs, and 31g protein.
Further Reading
- How Long Do Frozen Corn Dogs Last?
- Do Corn Dogs Have Dairy?
- Do Corn Dogs Have Gluten?
- What Are Korean Corn Dogs?
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