The 2016 Iowa State Fair started yesterday, August 11, and is considered one of the top-ranked state fairs in the United States. The fair draws people near and far with a host of exciting exhibits, enticing entertainment, and crazy (but delicious!) cuisine. But, if you're like us and don't want to blow your diet in the first ten minutes you're at the fair, there is hope!
In recent years, the Iowa State Fair has begun to offer
healthier food choices. Even though deep fried Oreos,
giant turkey legs, and funnel cakes are fair food staples for many, some of us
are drawn to the fair for the agricultural exhibits and the entertainment selection, and would rather opt for some healthier snacking options.
Healthier food selections at the Iowa State Fair comply with
the USDA guidelines for healthy meals with school lunches, including:
- Entrées less than 600 calories;
- Side dishes less than 300 calories;
- Less than 35 percent of calories from total fat;
- Less than 10 percent of calories from saturated
fat;
- Less than 35 percent of calories from sugar;
- And less than 1,000 mg of sodium.
For the full list of
healthier foods at the Iowa State Fair, scroll down to the bottom of the page.
“Use the Iowa State Fair Healthy Choices list to help plan
what you are going to eat during your visit to the fair,” says Lily
Swedenhjelm, RDN, LD, GRMC dietitian. “When we’re hungry, we tend to pick
what’s convenient; planning ahead can help you be more aware and mindful of
what you are eating throughout the day.”
Having healthier choices and knowing exactly where to find
them makes it easier to stay on track with your healthy eating pattern (and
think of all the exercise you’ll get by walking between venues and food
stops!), but we understand if there are a few ISF favorites that you can't give up.
“One idea for eating healthier at the fair is to choose one or
two ‘must-haves,’ and pair them with healthier choices,” Swedenhjelm says. “For
example, instead of having a corn dog and grater taters, choose a corn dog and
caprese salad on-a-stick or fruit on-a-stick.”
However, we suggest packing your lunch and
snacks in a cooler and leaving it in the car. That way you are in control of what
you’re consuming and can guarantee that you and your family are getting an
adequate amount of fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy, grains, and oils, and
are limiting the amount of saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium
you are taking in. (And it's cheaper!)
Healthy eating options at the Iowa State Fair include:
Baked Potatoes and
Corn-on-the-Cob
Find these starchy staples at Westmoreland
(south of the Anne and Bill Riley Stage) and Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters (south side of Walnut Square).
Caprese Salad
on-a-Stick
Get this fresh and zesty classic of cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella
cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette at The
Salad Bowl (Agriculture Building and Cultural Center Courtyard).
Caramel Apple Slices
Tangy apple slices and sweet caramel dipping sauce – find this classic combo at
Applishus (east canopy of the Varied
Industries Building; north side of Walnut Square; and Cultural Center
Courtyard).
Carrots with Ranch
Vegging out on the couch just got beat out by vegging out at the Iowa State
Fair. Get crunchy carrots and cool, creamy ranch from the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (west side of the
Agriculture Building).
Dried Fruit Log
Find these lighter-than-air sweet treats at the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (west side of the
Agriculture Building).
Fresh Fruit, Melon
& Berry Cups, and Shish kabobs
It’s hard to beat sweet, juicy fruit on a hot summer day! Find these fruity
options at several locations throughout the fairgrounds, including Beattie’s Melon Patch (west of the
Giant Slide); Stockman’s Inn
(southwest corner of the Cattle Barn); Benoit
Concessions (on Rock Island Avenue); Iowa
Orchards (Agriculture Building); and the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (west side of the
Agriculture Building).
Fruit on-a-Stick
Get tasty fruit with sweet, creamy yogurt dip at The Salad Bowl (Agriculture Building and Cultural Center Courtyard).
Green Bean or Potato
Bowl
Go green (bean) or go home! These yummy – and healthy! – options can be found
at Dawghouse Concessions (north side
of walk on Triangle).
Grilled Chicken
Sandwiches
Grab-and-go: Get your hot-off-the-grill chicken at several locations, including
Barksdales Concessions (in front of
the Varied Industries Building); Campbell’s
Concessions (Elwell Family Food Center); Stockman’s Inn (southwest corner of the Cattle Barn); B&S Concessions (west side of
the Anne and Bill Riley Stage); and Dawghouse
Concessions (north side of walk on Triangle).
Grilled Turkey
Sandwiches
Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to get your turkey on…gobble up some
summer-approved turkey (grilled) at Turkey
Time Concessions (north side of walk on Triangle).
Margherita Pizza
Get this delicious Italian classic at Parlo
Pizza’s (on the hill by Grandfather’s Farm).
Not Your Mamma’s Taco
Turkey trumps traditional ground beef in this scrumptious twist on a
beloved classic: enjoy shredded turkey, homemade veggie slaw, and sweet mango
salsa atop a deep fried tortilla at the Iowa
Turkey Federation Stand (west of the Anne and Bill Riley Stage).
Peanut Butter and
Jelly on-a-Stick
Grapes and peanut butter sandwich pieces wedged onto a skewer: the closest you can get to putting in an order for your childhood…on-a-stick. Get yours at The Salad Bowl (Agriculture Building
and Cultural Center Courtyard).
Pork Chops on-a-Stick
An Iowa State Fair must-have; you can find pork chops on-a-stick at the Iowa Pork Producers Association (east
end of Grand Avenue; east of the main stand on Grand Avenue; and Rock Island
Avenue west of the Livestock Pavilion).
Rib Shack Cowboy
Traditional ice cream in a waffle cone can get boring, so try the Rib Shack
Cowboy at the Rib Shack (south of
the Anne and Bill Riley Stage) for an extreme break from the ordinary. A savory
mix of cowboy beans, brisket or pork, coleslaw, and a signature chip all
smothered in BBQ sauce fills a spice-flavored waffle cone to create a food
experience that is anything but ordinary.
Salad-on-a-Stick
If you like iceberg lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes served kabob-style (and
with dressing), salad on-a-stick is the snack for you! Find it at The Salad Bowl (Agriculture Building
and Cultural Center Courtyard).
Salads
Get a variety of salads from a variety of stands, including Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters (south side
of Walnut Square), Campbell’s
Concessions (Elwell Family Food Center), Diamond Jack’s (west of the Livestock Pavilion), Doc’s Bud Tent/Pizza Parlor (north side
of Grand Avenue), The Salad Bowl
(Agriculture Building and Cultural Center Courtyard), The Greek Garden (north of the Varied Induestries Building and
southeast of the Administration Building), K’s
Concession (on Triangle east of the Administration Building), and Steer and Stein (east of the
Grandstand).
Sandwich Wraps
Take a break from the fried food bonanza all around the fairgrounds and opt
for a refreshing sandwich wrap from The
Salad Bowl (Agriculture Building and Cultural Center Courtyard).
Shrimp Corndog
This seafood specialty comes dipped in corndog batter, fried till golden
and crispy, and is topped with a sweet jalapeño glaze. Get yours at the Po Boy Stand (on Rock Island Avenue).
Tomatoes
Find luscious, garden-fresh tomatoes at Hardenbrook Concessions (southwest of the Agriculture Building).
Turkey Tenderloins
The turkey breast sandwich has less than five grams of fat and is low in
calories. Several delicious and healthy options can be found at the Iowa Turkey Federation Stand (west of
the Anne and Bill Riley Stage).
Veggie Corn Dogs
Longing for the experience of a corn dog while at the Iowa State Fair, but
can’t or don’t eat meat? Get the best of both worlds with a yummy veggie
corn dog from Veggie Table (north of the Varied Industries Building)!
Sources:
https://www.iowastatefair.org/food/whats-new/
