Forgoing Fair Food

Happy summer! We headed to the County Fair for our daytime activity on July 4th. There was so much excitement: red velvet funnel cake, pastrami bread, triple-decker Krispy Kreme cheeseburgers, chocolate-dipped bacon, "garbage" burrito, deep fried chicken skins, extra long corn dogs, battered Aussie fried potatoes, grilled cream cheese hot dogs and, of course, more, more, more!!! Of note were the multiple opportunities to purchase one of those freakish giant smoked turkey legs. Full disclosure: though we are a healthy crew, we did get caught up in the moment...one of our group won 3rd place in a pie eating contest. (Chocolate cream, in case you were curious.)

Alas, what to do if you want to partake at the fair, but not in the flawed fair fare? Fortunately, there are some simple solutions:

• With a little digging, we found and enjoyed a steamed artichoke. It was perfectly cooked, completely plain, and fantastic. To me, this is a delicacy, as I never take the time or make the effort to steam my own artichokes at home. The butter and mayonnaise side dipping cups were optional, and the heart was huge and sweet. It takes a long time to eat an artichoke, which makes it feel more satisfying. The California Artichoke Advisory Board website states that the edible portion of one large artichoke contains only 25 calories, "...no fat, 170 milligrams of potassium, and is a good source of vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and dietary fiber" to boot.
• Grilled corn was also a hit with our gang. Two of the group (who are admitted butter-lovers) were halfway through their ears before realizing they were dry. The corn was juicy and delicious from being cooked in the husk. With a perfect blend of sweet and smoky, one cob hit the spot, without butter and/or salt.
• Plain baked potatoes, veggie pitas, grilled chicken sandwiches, fresh fruit cups, and lean meat kabobs were also on hand at nearby booths. 

Bottom line: It is possible to make smart decisions without feeling as though you are missing out on any festivities. Our best choice of the day was knocking out over 15,000 steps on our pedometers while checking out all of the vendors, and burning an few extra calories laughing at the idea of a smoked Jack Daniels bacon-wrapped churro, deep fried avocado, and bacon cotton candy.  We had fun, still had fabulous food, and even milked a goat!

Molly Michelman, a dietitian with The Food Connection

Festival Eating

It is summer!!  It's a time to eat, drink and get lots of vitamin D.  The best place to get all three is at a festival. Growing up in the mid-west, I remember there were festivals all the time.  One of my favorite festivals is the Summerfest Music Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  It's not just that awesome bands play all day on eleven different stages, or that Leinenkugel cold beer is on tap, but it’s also that there are multiple unique food vendors.  All kinds of ethnic and local staples abound such as fried cheese curls, fried Italian eggplant strips with marinara sauce, Irish Reuben egg rolls, Greek gyros, Thai chicken satay with peanut sauce, American fried cookie ice cream and mini cake donuts, plus much, much more.  All I have to say is, "Holy saturated fat, Batman!"  Well, guess what?  I had a taste or two of everything listed above, and it was yummy!  Yes, dietitians are human, and we do like to "experience" different cuisines.  Over the five hours at the fest I consumed approximately 1565 calories with 41% fat (mostly saturated fat) and 1630 mg of sodium.  To prepare for this day, I went for a three-mile run and ate a 350 calorie breakfast. Needless to say, I was not hungry at the end of the day.  Also, Summerfest features a lot of walking and, of course, dancing; so I made sure I kept moving to expend the energy I was consuming. 

The key to success is PORTION CONTROL and MOVEMENT.  I know we've heard that before, but it is the truth.  I didn’t finish full portions of anything I ate.  Tasting a variety of foods was fun, and I had more then enough to eat.

You can enjoy a festival and not feel guilty, because it's only once a year.  I have to admit that sometimes I also go to the Taste of Chicago during the same week.  Fortunately, now the two festivals are held during different weeks, so I might have to spread my vacation time out a bit longer.

Remember eating the above menu on a daily basis would be ill-advised.

Have a fabulous summer!!!!

Mickey Albrecht, a dietitian with The Food Connection.