By Natasha Uspensky, CHHC

I know, it sounds crazy. But it is possible to enjoy the State Fair without doing serious damage to your arteries, your waistline, and your conscience. On a recent trip to the Minnesota State Fair, we managed to stay totally vegetarian AND keep the gut-busting, greasiness to a bare minimum, while still having a great time and indulging a bit! The added bonus was not feeling like a bloated ball of guilty grossness when leaving at the end of the day.

Healthiest State Fair Foods:

• Corn on the cob

• Roasted nuts

• Fresh fruit

• Pickles

• Falafel

• Turkey leg (shared by at least two people!)

• Popcorn (hold the butter!)

• Vegetarian hot dogs or corn dogs

• Local honeycomb (to share with friends!)

If you really need to have some of the junkier State Fair foods, the best rule of thumb is to have just a bite or two and share the rest. A couple cheese curds or slices of fried green tomatoes won’t harm you, but a whole carton will.

Remember to stay hydrated (with WATER! Not slushies and beer) and keep moving. And definitely don’t arrive on an empty stomach… A hungry you will have a lot more trouble making healthier choices!