Tip of the Day:

Make Your Hot Dog a Healthy One

Whether you're at a ball game or a barbecue, it can seem as though hot dogs are calling your name. They appear so innocent because they're small and such a simple meal, but don't be fooled — they can really pack in the calories. Get a dog with all the fixings — cheese, chili, ketchup, mustard, mayo, and baked beans — and coleslaw, macaroni salad, or potato salad on the side, and you're looking at 750 to 2,000 calories. Not to mention all the fat you'll be getting from that!

You don't need to avoid hot dogs altogether; you just need to choose wisely.

• Hebrew National Beef Frank: 150 calories, 14 g fat
• Hebrew National 95% Fat-Free Frank: 40 calories, 1 g fat
• Calories and Fat Saved: 110 calories, 13 g fat

If you make hot dogs at home, you can easily cut down on calories by choosing the lower-calorie, fat-free frank. When you're out, you probably won't have that choice, but you can still enjoy a lower-calorie dog by swapping sauerkraut for coleslaw, which will save you 250 calories per cup; using ketchup, mustard, or relish instead of mayonnaise; and skipping the beans and cheese.

You can also get turkey, chicken, or veggie franks to make at home, use a whole-wheat bun for added fiber, and fill up on veggies instead of pasta and macaroni salad.