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