Stick to it at the Minnesota State Fair

Most of us don't go to the Minnesota State Fair and expect to eat healthy, nutritious foods. The thought of a calorie splurge at the state fair might make you leery of joining in the fun if you've been watching your weight. I'm here to tell you that it is surprisingly easy to find healthy food options at the fair, and we even have a guide to help you walk off the extra calories.

Plan ahead. Grab a map or daily schedule and plan your day around activities instead of food.

Stay hydrated. Bring water with you to the fair. Water is important for healthy skin, hair and nails. It also aids digestion, and helps control body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.

Share. Share those over-sized, fried or sweet foods that abound at the fair.

Be realistic. If you commit to enjoying yourself completely, don't beat yourself up afterward. It is the fair after all. It comes along for 10 days every year. Give yourself permission to splurge a little, enjoy yourself and get back on track the next day.

Healthier Minnesota State Fair foods to consider:

• Assorted fresh fruit, Produce Exchange
• Assorted wrap sandwiches, That's a Wrap
• Chicken and rice bowl, Patinella's Chicken Grill
• Chicken breast or pork chop on a stick, various locations
• Frozen grapes, Bayou Bob's Gator Shack
• Fruit & vegetable smoothies, Caribbean Smoothies
• Grilled chicken breast sandwich, veggie burgers, Smokey's Charbroiler
• Grilled shrimp on a stick, The Shrimp Shack
• Non-dairy, gluten-free frozen fruit bar, key lime pie bar, various locations

If you do indulge, here's the number of steps you'll need to work off some favorite Fair foods.

[Click on image to view larger.]

Nutritional information sources include the USDA, MyFitnessPal and others. Calorie estimates provided by the American Council on Exercise Activity Calculator and are based on a 150-pound person.