July 4th means fireworks, cookouts, and for some the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Every year on July 4th, Coney Island holds Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest where participants eat as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. On Wednesday, Joey Chestnut won the hot dog eating contest for the sixth consecutive year. The man ate 68 hot dogs… sounds appetizing right?
I could barely finish the five BBQ chicken wings I had last night at our family’s Fourth of July cookout. I can only imagine where this man puts his food!
Well, fortunately this morning on the TODAY show Joey offered his secrets to scarfing down 68 hotdogs and buns. Joey’s girlfriend makes him 70 hotdogs and he tries to eat as much as he can within 10 minutes. And he tries to eat a little more each day than his previous attempt. Three days before the big hot dog eating contest Joey does not eat anything to prepare himself for all the hot dogs he will devour.
Let’s think about for a second – starving your body for three days then refueling it with more than 20,000 calories doesn’t sounds healthy. But our registered dietitian, Mary Hartley RD, said,”Starving is of no significance here. The contestant is simply emptying his/her stomach to create as much room as possible before the contest. Competitive eating has nothing to do with day-to-day eating style and everything to do with winning $10,000.” Starvation for competitive eaters isn’t that big of a deal because they are training their body, like any other professional sport.
The man ate 68 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, which is about 20,194 calories worth of hot dogs, 1,319g fat, 505 g saturated fat, and 725mg sodium. The nutritional facts are taken from previous years facts and adjusting them to the 68 hot dogs and buns Joey ate. Just thinking about the processed meat makes me cringe.
Congratulations Joey Chestnut, you inhaled more than 10 days’ worth of calories!. But, you won $10,000 dollars. Kudos to you sir.
Also Read:
Our Healthiest (and BEST) July 4th Cookout Recipes