State Fair Food. How Unhealthy?

State fair food booths are famous for deep-frying most anything-even butter. It’s not unusual for a single serving to hit 500 or even 1,000 calories, with dozens of grams of fat.

As unlikely as it may sound, it is possible to get a taste of a state fair without overindulging, says Dr. Donald Hensrud, a Mayo Clinic specialist in nutrition and preventive medicine.

*  Give yourself a good start and eat something healthy before you go. Have some fruit to start the day or a salad before you go in the afternoon.

*  Work off the extra calories through walking, which is easy to do at the fair.

*  Burn off extra calories by getting in an extra workout or two, before or after the fair.

*  Decide ahead of time how much and what you’ll indulge in. If you have a plan, you’re less likely to overeat. Turkey legs on the midway or dairy barn homemade ice cream? Pick one and plan ahead.

*  Split portions with family or friends. This will not only help decrease calorie intake, but also lets you enjoy more tastes and may help to save money.

*  Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and aid the digestive process. Stay away from non-diet soda. It’s loaded with calories and sugar and has no nutritional benefit. Drink water instead.

*  Don’t panic if you overindulge. Return to your normal eating routine the next day.