Eat this, not that number 1 - Turkey Bratwursts/Hot Dogs vs. beef Bratwursts/pork Hot Dogs

I had just gotten the results of my blood test that again showed high cholesterol and again warned me that I was at risk of heart disease in the future.  Being only 26, it startled me, but considering it had happened the year before and I made no changes, it shouldn't have - and it didn't surprise me.  I was in the store, and if this shows you how little I know about eating healthy, I called up my sister who is a Physician's Assistant and sees people like me all the time.  "Eat more lean meats" she says.  My response - "What do you mean by lean meats?"  "You know, turkey, chicken...less beef and pork."  Voila.  Here I am today.  I started actually comparing the foods I was eating and was astounded at the differences that can be made just by making some wise decisions in the grocery store - you know, like...actually looking at the calorie content of the food.  I had been buying store-brand brats at my local Shop N Save grocery store.  I switched to Jennie-O turkey brats and it was a no-brainer.  Yes, they cost more - but I'll be eating less, so it makes up the difference.

Bratwursts
I had been eating these store brand pork brats that were an amazing 290 calories per link and switched to Jennie-O brats, nearly the same size (a little smaller than regular brats after cooking, but an amazing 170 calories.  That's a 120 calorie saving!



Couple this with 80 calorie Healthy Life Bread compared to standard (typical) 110 calorie buns, and you have an awesome saving of 150 calories per brat!

I also found that you can buy some sauerkraut that is 5 calories for 2 tbsp, while others have 0 calories! 

THEN
So, my old meal would have been 2 pork brats on bun (760 calories) and 2 hefty helpings of chips (320 calories - I'm being generous to myself by calling this only 320 calories).  That's a total meal of 1,080 calories - almost what I'm taking in per day now that I am in weight-loss mode (1510). 

NOW
My new meal would be a single turkey brat on bun (250 calories) and a portion-controlled helping of Pringles (baked, 150 calories for 16 "crisps"), or vegetables (steamed vegetables in bag - like Bird's Eye brand or Green Giant) at about 130 calories (if I ate almost the whole bag) - for a total of about 400 calories.  Yes, that's a 600 calories saved in a single meal.  600 calories that can be saved for a snack, or even another brat if I feel like it. 

Hot Dogs
Basically, same story for hot dogs.  I was getting uppity about my hot dogs, so I started buying Oscar Meyer.  More expensive than the store brand, but also a lot more delicious.  I bought some Jennie-O turkey dogs and again was amazed by the difference.  Oscar Meyer hot dogs contained 140 calories apiece, Jennie-O turkey dogs?  70.  Yes, 70 calories in a hot dog.  That means my old hot dog on a bun was 250 calories, and I dropped it down to 150 - 100 calories, took little to no hit on taste, and had that big of a savings.

THEN
Again, 2 hot dogs with bun (500 calories) and 2 helpings of chips (320 calories - again being generous to myself) - for a grand total of 820 calories.

NOW
Now, 2 turkey hot dogs with bun (300 calories), and 1 helping of Pringles (16 crisps = 150 calories) for a total of 450 calories.  That's a savings of 370 calories.


So, it's quite simple - I found delicious alternatives that if I had discovered 10 years ago, I probably wouldn't have to be so anal about what I eat today....in other words, I wouldn't have gotten as big as I had gotten.  Give Jennie-O (or any other brand, for that matter) a shot - you won't regret it, and your body will love you for it.

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eatthisnotthat