I don’t eat pork. I don’t eat catfish, crabs or lobster. Scavenger animals are off my list of foods to eat. These foods are on my forbidden list because they are not healthy foods, at least not for me.

I’m not vegetarian or vegan either. But, I don’t eat much meat. Meat has never been high on my list of foods that I like to eat. However, when I do eat, I try to eat healthy. You know that from reading my blog.

Ants on a log

I was a Girl Scout when I was growing up. One of the snacks we like to eat was called, Ants on a log. This snack was a favorite. The ingredients were celery sticks, peanut butter and raisins. Simple, easy to make, therefore, high on the list of snacks to eat.

Peanut butter is a favorite food for most children. But, it can be high in calories, 207 on average for two tablespoons. Of course, you know what’s coming next, use the organic version whenever possible.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of peanut butter. Peanuts are high in protein and “good” fats. That’s to say, it’s heart healthy.

Other benefits include:

Resource: https://www.webmd.com/diet/peanut-butter-good-for-you#1

Certain brands of peanut butter are high in saturated fats, sugar or salt. These ingredients can lead to health issues such as heart problems and hypertension.

Therefore, is there a healthier version of peanut butter on the market? Especially for those who are watching their calories. Recently, I decided to try the powered version of this childhood treat. Actually, I am surprised by the results. In other words, it’s low in calories and passed the taste test. I have to admit, I thought it would taste yucky. But, I’m surprised I like it. It’s also easy to add to smoothies such as a banana smoothie.

Try it. I think you will like it.

Pigs in a blanket

Now, I’ve already said that I don’t eat pork and pigs in a blanket are hot dogs and biscuits. Most hot dogs are made from pork. However, you can find turkey, beef or chicken versions and even plant based ones.

The turkey hot dog contains:

  • Total Carbohydrate 4.1g
  • Vitamin D 0.60mcg
  • Calcium 157.00mg
  • Iron 1.56mg

In addition, a turkey or chicken hot dog has 5.5 g of protein each. The beef hot dog contains 5 g and a pork hot dog has about 9 g. The down side of a hot dog is that it’s a processed meat. This means it’s going to be high in sodium in most cases. Having said this, the turkey hot dog has the least amount of sodium.

Therefore, the average beef hot dog contains:

  • Calories: 314
  • Fat: 18.6g
  • Sodium: 810mg
  • Carbohydrates: 24.3g
  • Fiber: 0.8g
  • Sugars: 4g
  • Protein: 11.4g

Resource: https://www.verywellfit.com/hot-dog-nutrition-facts-4135155

This includes the bun of course.

But, with pigs in a blanket one uses biscuits to wrap around the hot dog instead of using a bun.

In conclusion

Above all, remember, you can enjoy some of your childhood favorites in a healthier version. Therefore, we can splurge at times without going off the deep end. Enjoy life and remember, just use a healthier version of your childhood favorites.