It's Fair Time!!!

Ladies, its August, and you know what that means….Fair Time!!! The people, the butter sculpture, the midway, the 200 food stands, 40 items on a stick. Aaaahhhh!!! What’s a person to do faced with all of the temptation of Fudge Puppies (waffles drenched in chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream), Potato Lollipops, deep fried hohos, 3 Musketeers, and Snickers; and hot bologna?!

In fairness to the Fair, it does only come around once a year. And, as an advocate of moderation, I’m not saying that you have to AVOID all foods at the fair. You can give yourself a treat. Just have a plan in place to help prevent you going overboard and becoming a poster child for SMASH’s t-shirt, “I went to the Iowa State Fair, and all I got was Type 2 Diabetes.”

So, what can you do to make yourself a stealthy healthier fair goer? Here are a couple of tips:

1. I’m so proud, the fair has a web-site outlining their healthier food options! Check it out and plan your staples. The pork chops on a stick (non fried kind) are ~ 314 calories, ~18 g of fat for a large 8 oz serving, the turkey tenderloins sound yummy, and one of my fav summer items is grilled corn on the cob! Although the salad on a stick is inventive, iceberg lettuce doesn’t really offer any nutritional value. You’ll probably be ravenous by the time you make it through the next pavilion. So, if you’re going for a salad, opt for one made with romaine or spinach leafs and get better nutrition bang for your buck.
2. Going to the fair isn’t complete without a goodie on a stick. Plan ahead by visiting the website and select one as your treat for the day. Keep in mind that a fried Snickers is ~450 calories and 30 g of fat. A better option is the Monkey Tail (chocolate covered banana on a stick ~330 cals and 18 g of fat, w/nuts)
3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You all know how much of a water pusher I am. Save a water bottle, or take one with you and fill up throughout the day. It’s going to be hot and humid, you’re going to be walking; your body is going to need water; and our bodies often mistake thirst for hunger. If you’re thirsty and your palette craves something sweet, look for unsweetened iced tea and use Equal or Splenda to sweeten it yourself. Be aware that the yummy lemonade is delectable, but with all of the sugar that’s added to make it sweet, it’s ~280 calories + 61 g of sugar! On an 1,800 calorie diet, it’s recommended that you have no more than 20 g (5 tsp) of sugar/day; and on 2,000 calories, the recommended limit is 32 g (8 tsp) of sugar. (Side note: there are about 40 g of sugar in a 12 oz can of regular pop).
4. Make a sporty fashion statement. OK, it may not be the next runway fad, but whatever, there will be people wearing outfits and accessories that are much more fashionably offensive at the fair than your pedometer. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking. Make it count! Get at least 10,000 steps per day at the fair.
5. And last but not least, wear your sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours.

Planning ahead will help make a big difference in keeping on track while also allowing for some classic enjoyment of a summer tradition. Have fun! The client with the highest daily step total will receive a Patina Esprit water bottle as a prize!