In the dog house: when it comes time for that final Labor Day blowout, make sure you roast the right franks

Men's Fitness, Sept, 2005

Healthy Choice Low-Fat Beef Franks

CALORIES: 70 PROTEIN: 6 g FAT: 2.5 g SODIUM: 440 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Milk TASTE: Slightly soapy with a gummy, Spam-like consistency

MF RATING: ** (out of five)

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Jennie-O Jumbo Turkey Franks

CALORIES: 120 PROTEIN: 7 g FAT: 10 g SODIUM: 600 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Smoke flavoring TASTE: Like plastic-wrapped turkey with a hint of cloves and spice

MF RATING: *

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Hebrew National Reduced-Fat Beef Franks

CALORIES: 120 PROTEIN: 6 g FAT: 10 g SODIUM: 360 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Hydrolyzed soy protein TASTE: Authentic and greasy--like a real dog should be

MF RATING: ****

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Oscar Hayer Fat-Free Wieners

CALORIES: 40 PROTEIN: (3 g FAT: 0 g SODIUM: 490 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Autolyzed yeast TASTE: Overprocessed and supersalty (more so than any other dog we tried)

MF RATING: ***

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Ball Park Fat-Free Franks CALORIES: 40 PROTEIN: 5 g FAT: 0 g SODIUM: 420 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Vitamin C TASTE: A pleasant mixture of bacon, sausage, and stadium "dirty-water dogs"

MF RATING: ****

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Boar's Head Lite Skinless Beef Frankfurters CALORIES: 90 PROTEIN: 7 g FAT: 6 g SODIUM: 270 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Sodium phosphate TASTE: Hearty, manly, real meat, packed into a crisp, snappy dog

MF RATING: *****

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Morningstar Farms Veggie Dogs CALORIES: 80 PROTEIN: 11 g FAT: 0.5 g SODIUM: 580 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Red No. 3 TASTE: Like an Egg McMuffin ground into a chewy, log-shaped paste

MF RATING: *

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Oscar Hayer Louis Rich Turkey Franks CALORIES: 100 PROTEIN: 5 g FAT: 8 g SODIUM: 510 mg ODDEST INGREDIENT: Tapioca starch TASTE: Oddly similar to burnt marshmallow

MF RATING: **