The Fair Fare Dilemma.

Its about that time again, the start of a new school year fast approaching and seemingly just enough time to squeeze in a few last summer memories. For upstate New York that means it's fair time.

Source: http://www.lazylightning.org

Any healthy eater heading to a state fair or even a local carnival knows they are certainly gearing up for a day full of diet temptations. As the New York State Fair's own website puts it: "it's a feast for the eyes and heart burn for the stomach with every kind of food available from the donut burger to the long john donut hot dog dipped in maple syrup."(3) With so many diet crushing choices eating even reasonably healthy can certainly be a big challenge. Still with some basic knowledge of nutrition and a good dose of will power staying on track and satisfied at the fair is possible.

Meal choices at any fair or carnival are generally saturated with fried, butter drenched, or sugar soaked foods. So where exactly are the lesser of the evil fair foods? To find them try and stick to these few basic guidelines and remember, your not shopping at a Whole Foods Market so getting creative with what's offered is key.

• Know your options: Sure, when you first walk through the gates you may only see corn dogs and deep fried Oreos  but once you explore more of the grounds you very well may find fresh baked goods (some of which can be fairly wholesome) and perhaps even produce from local farms. 
• Go for grilled: Frying has it's own culture at state fairs as the crowds marvel at the never ending progression of fried foods including dishes like fried beer and even fried butter. Still, some vendors may offer grilled varieties of their food which are almost always healthier since frying can easily double a food's caloric content. For example a serving of fried chicken legs contains around 130 calories while grilling the same amount of chicken leaves the dish at 60 calories. (1) 
• When all else fails, go vegetarian for the day: Most of the street-food style meat served at a fair is doused with fat in one way or another. If you can't find anything even semi-lean look around for some vegetarian options. These are often easier to keep on the lighter side like ordering roasted corn on the cob unbuttered.
• Moderation, moderation, moderation: Often times your options at a fair or carnival are nearly equal in total calories. For example, a caramel apple may seem like a healthier option than a funnel cake, and while in some ways it is, all said and done they both contain around 300 calories (as do many similar dessert items). Consequently, more important than what you eat at the fair is how much you eat. Simply put: eat well before heading to the fair, enjoy a few of the delicacies there in moderation, and don't forget to bring along a few healthy snacks to make it through the day guilt and hunger-free! (2) 

What foods have you had at a fair or carnival that helped keep your diet on track?

Sources:
1) http://www.livestrong.com/article/470763-facts-on-why-baking-foods-is-better-than-deep-frying-foods/ 
2) http://www.healthcastle.com/carnival_foods.shtml
3) http://www.nysfair.org/your-fair-visit/fair-attractions-events/