Going to the state fair is a once-a- year experience for many of us and eating the food there is at the top of the list of fun things to do. Into which food group does most of the food you can buy at the fair fit?
That’s right: Under discretionary calories, or what we think of as “extras.” Those extra calories are typically limited to 100 to 300 calories for most people, if you check on . A few hundred calories aren’t going to go far when you start looking at your food choices at the fair.
One way to enjoy extra goodies is to plan ahead and consume fewer calories a day or two before you go to the fair. But keep in mind that once you get there, you will want to:
Pass up the megasize drinks. Instead of choosing a giant calorie-laden soda, juice or fresh-squeezed lemonade, opt for the smaller version instead. An even better option would be to bring along water, which is calorie-free, and then you can start your calorie balance sheet at zero.
Share treats. Since there are so many tempting options, think about having a little bit of several different things to keep from feeling deprived. Cotton candy is an easy treat to share. But all things on a stick and deep- fried don’t fit into this category as easily.
Avoid grazing. When you “graze” it’s hard to know how much you’ve eaten. As you walk around you buy this and that to munch on and it’s easy to lose track. Check out the food options as you’re walking, make your selections and then sit and eat. That way you’ll be more conscious of what’s gone into your mouth.
Consider setting limits. A funnel cake is a deep-fried sugar-topped delicacy chock full of fat and calories. Let’s face it, the fat grams in this choice are way over any reasonable limit in a healthy diet. You may want to enjoy this treat without sharing, but it would be advisable to make good choices the rest of the day.
Another good option is to plan for more activity such as walking to burn off the calories in those fair delicacies. Wear comfortable shoes and consider wearing a pedometer if you really want to track your steps. One mile equals 2,000 steps. A 120- pound person burns about 80 calories an hour walking at 2 miles per hour; a 180- pound person burns around 120 calories an hour.
The number of calories you burn walking depends on your body weight and the distance you walk. Heavier weight people will burn more calories per mile and you’ll burn more calories the farther you walk. If you can walk a mile in 15 minutes, you’ll likely burn about 100 calories, though while at the fair you’re unlikely to be walking at that pace.
Even with the best intentions some of you may feel that you’ve overindulged by the time you’re leaving the fair. If you’re looking for a backup plan consider that tomorrow is another day. Get yourself back on track with your food choices and get going on your exercise. A transgression here or there for a special occasion will not undo an otherwise healthy lifestyle.
Shirley Perryman, M.S., R.D., is an extension specialist with the Colorado State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Contact her at shirley.perryman@colostate.edu.
Walk it off
Here’s how the calories in typical fair foods translate into the number of miles you would need to walk to burn off those calories:
Caramel apple: 3 miles
Corn dog: 4.5 miles
Cheese fries: 4.5 miles
Cotton candy: 1.5 miles
Fried candy bar on a stick: 4.5 miles
6-inch funnel cake: 3 miles
32-oz. soft drink: 2.5 miles
Sno-cone: 2.5 miles
Soft pretzel: 3 miles
Craving funnel cake now? Get one at the Colorado State Fair, Aug. 24 through Sept. 3. -Shirley Perryman
