Kabobs in New York City

In New York City there are hot dog stands everywhere. But did you know they also sell kabobs?

In Midtown, near Rockefeller Center, and also around the city, hot dog vendors also offer other tasty alternatives, such as chicken and beef kabobs. These kabobs are cooked in front of you, and the smell of them wafts through the city.

Once you order, the vendor places the chicken or beef onto the grill, and presses it with what looks like a hot iron covered in aluminum foil. The chicken or beef has already been cut into chunks, which have been placed on a skewer. Flames lick the meat and steam rises as the food becomes warm and tender. Generally, the chicken kabobs taste better, because they are more tender and not stringy like the beef kabobs.

Both the chicken and the beef kabobs are already marinated and partially cooked, which is why you don't have to wait long to purchase and then eat one. After only two or three minutes, the meat is cooked, and the vendor places it in a hot dog bun and wraps it in foil and napkins. You have the option of adding barbeque or spicy sauce, but it tastes just as good without any sauce.

These kabobs typically cost five dollars, which is on the expensive side, but compared to the cost of other foods in New York City, it is still quite cheap. They can be greasy, but they make for a great snack, or a quick lunch. Since they are made to go, they make for the perfect food to eat while walking. And if you are in New York City, walking is a requirement.

Both chicken and beef have their good and bad qualities, nutrition wise, so it is good to know some basic nutrition facts about them. First, both chicken and beef are high in cholesterol, so if you can try to balance your meal with walnuts or oats or fatty fish. However, chicken is also low in sodium, and high in niacin, phosphorus, selenium, and vitamin B6. Beef, on the other hand, is low in sodium, and it is a good source of riboflavin, niacin, zinc, protein, vitamin C, vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, copper, and selenium.

On the other end of the spectrum, a plain hot dog is high in saturated fat and sodium. So the next time you by a hot dog vendor, think twice and order the chicken. It's just as convenient and it tastes much better.

Resources:

Calorie Count

Nutrition Data-Beef

Nutrition Data-Hot Dog

WebMD