Read more: Local, State, Community, Lucas County Fair, Lucas County Recreation Center, Lucas County Fair Food, Fair Food Calories, Calorie Patrol
MAUMEE, OHIO -- What better way to spend a day at the Lucas County Fair than to...eat.
Corn dogs, elephant ears and so much more. But what about all the calories in your fair favorites? NBC24 went on calorie patrol to find out.
French fries, corn dogs and elephant ears, oh my! Welcome to the fair and welcome to all the tasty, filling, and fattening foods that await you.
The Lucas County Fair, much like most other fairs across the country, is a smorgasbord of food. "We tried new foods out...deep fried oreos, Snickers. That's for the younger generation," said Ziggy Lambert who manages vendor stands at this year's event. Whatever sticky, gooey or fried concoction you desire, it is likely available.
Two fair-goers we caught up with have been coming to the fair for as long as they can remember. While Kelly Milewski opts for healthier treats, she says it is hard to resist the tastier cravings. "Mac and cheese cheddar explosion. I'm a vegetable girl. I love vegetables, but here at the fair? Fries! I love fries! And lemonade."
There are plenty of option when it comes to fair food. So wherever your taste buds lead you - to the french fries or cotton candy - your healthiest option may be the caramel apple. However, even those aren't necessarily the best choice.
"A caramel apple runs about 450 calories. Sometimes, they have candied apples which tend to be a little bit lower in calories. Those can be a better option than your funnel cakes and your elephant ears because you're actually getting a little bit of fiber," said registered dietician Jodi Augustyniak of Toledo Children's Hospital.
Most experts tend to agree on one point. It's easy to splurge on the food when you tend to enjoy the fair-style food only once a year. "When you go (to the fair), you don't just go for an hour. You usually spend at least half the day there, so you have to eat. I think some people see it as an opportunity to indulge in one of their favorite foods," said Augustyniak.
So, no matter if you indulge once a year or four times a year, one of the most important things to remember is portion control. The best solution:,if you don't eat as healthy as you should, is to share your fair treat with a friend.
