Iowa State Fair offers healthy food choices

Pace yourself.

With nearly 200 food stands, at the Iowa State Fair - which begins Thursday in Des Moines - it's easy to overeat and overspend.

More people are sharing food with others to stretch their appetite and dollar, says Iowa State Fair Marketing Director Lori Chappell.

“People will split a deep-fried Twinkie with a friend,” she says.” “The economical way to eat way through the fair is by sampling and sharing.”

Food is in the top three attractions for fairgoers, behind entertainment and the Varied Industries Building, Chappell says.

While it may be a badge of honor for some to eat as many calories as possible, others don't want to leave their healthy habits at the gate.

Salads, pork chops, fresh fruit, corn on the cob and sandwich wraps are alternatives to deep fried options.

Fruit and vegetables are sold by growers in the Agriculture Building. The salad on-a-stick was introduced at the fair last year. The main location of the Salad Bowl vendor is on the west balcony of the Agriculture Building's second floor.

Some foods may seem healthy but can tip the scales due to their large portion size. For example, a large turkey leg can contain more than 1,000 calories, depending on its size.

Corn dogs are the top food, Chappell says, and pork chops are a must-do on the food list. Both are on a stick, allowing fairgoers to keep moving.

Th 45 foods on-a-stick in 2008 will increase to 50 this year, Chappell says.

“It's a great way to have mobile food and eat on the go,” she says. “It's become such a novelty that vendors try to outdo themselves.”

Hence, deep-fried candy bars and salad on-a-stick.

Food on a stick

• Pickle on-a-stick
• Pork chop on-a-stick
• Corn dog
• Cheese on-a-stick
• Cajun chicken on-a-stick
• Sesame chicken on-a-stick
• Carmel apple
• German sausage on-a-stick
• Teriyaki beef on-a-stick
• Corn on the cob on-a-stick
• Cotton candy
• Veggie dog on-a-stick
• Turkey drumstick
• Nutty bar
• Fried pickle on-a-stick
• Hot bologna on-a-stick
• Shrimp on-a-stick
• Chicken on-a-stick
• Monkey Tails (chocolate covered banana on-a-stick)
• Taffy on-a-stick
• Honey on-a-stick
• Ice cream Wonder Bar
• Deep fried Snickers bar on-a-stick
• Deep fried 3 Musketeers bar on-a-stick
• Deep fried Milky Way bar on-a-stick
• Deep fried Twinkie on-a-stick
• Lamb on-a-stick
• Meatballs on-a-stick
• Deep fried hoho on-a-stick
• Fudge Puppy (waffle drenched in chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream)
• Chili Dog on-a-stick
• Funtastick Pork on-a-stick
• Dutch letters on-a-stick
• Turkey tenders on-a-stick
• Deep fried hot dog on-a-stick
• Chocolate covered cheesecake on-a-stick
• Potato Lollipop (4 thick slices of russet potato deep fried and on-a-stick with dipping sauces)
• Pineapple on-a-stick (Fresh pineapple dipped in funnel cake batter and deep fried)
• Chicken lips on-a-stick (breaded chicken breast smothered with hot sauce, served with blue cheese dressing).
• Cornbrat on-a-stick (bratwurst dipped in corn dog batter)
• Frozen fudge brownie on-a-stick
• Ice cream cookie sandwich on-a-stick
• Rock candy on-a-stick
• Salad on-a-stick
• Hard-boiled egg on-a-stick

Healthy food choices

• Salad on-a-stick at The Salad Bowl (west balcony of the Agriculture Building; Cultural Center) – an iceberg lettuce wedge with carrots and tomato served kabob-style, served with dressing.
• Baked potatoes and corn-on-the-cob at Westmoreland (south of the Anne and Bill Riley Stage).
• Salads at various locations: Campbell's (Elwell Family Food Center), Diamond Jack's (west of the Livestock Pavilion), The Salad Bowl (west balcony of the Agriculture Building; Cultural Center), The Greek Garden (north of the Varied Industries Building and southeast of the Administration Building), Master Jack's (west of the Grandstand) and Steer and Stein (east of the Grandstand).
• Sandwich wraps at The Salad Bowl (west balcony of the Agriculture Building and Cultural Center Courtyard).
• Mixed fruit cups, melon cups and shish-kabobs at Beattie's Melon Patch (west of the Giant Slide).
• Mixed berry cups at Stockman's Inn (southwest corner of the Cattle Barn). New for 2009, Stockman's Inn will offer a new side item, Blue Ribbon Berries - a fresh blueberry mix.
• Veggie corn dogs at Veggie Table (north of the Varied Industries Building).
• Turkey tenderloins at the Iowa Turkey Federation (west of Anne and Bill Riley Stage) and their turkey breast sandwich has less than 5 grams of fat and is low in calories.
• Pork chops on-a-stick at the Iowa Pork Producers Association (main location: east end of Grand Avenue; satellite locations: east of the main stand and on Rock Island Avenue west of the Livestock Pavilion).
• Many food concessions also use trans fat free cooking oils.