5 Foods You Should Never Eat at a Fair

It’s agricultural fair season in Maine! It’s a Maine tradition that should never be missed! There’s so much to see and do at the fairs.

2016 Schedule of Maine Fairs

dreamstime_s_21206914And so much to eat!
Traditional faire at the fair includes the fatty favorites:

Funnel Cakes! French Fries! Sausage Sandwiches in big, bulky rolls and loaded with sauteed peppers and onions! Ice Cream! Pies! Cupcakes! Blooming Onions!

And every year some clever group thinks up a new and delicious high-calorie treat!

A trip to the fair just isn’t the same without indulging in some of that delicious food. Just stepping onto the fairgrounds is enough to get excited about the tasty eats we’ll find. Then it’s the tantalizing smells that really stir the appetite.dreamstime_s_43142024Eating outside, with the sounds of the amusement rides and the midway all enhance the flavor and enjoyment. The fair is no time to be overly concerned with weight loss. Let’s just not throw caution to the wind.

A little flexible restraint is the best way to have a good time at the fair and enjoy some good eating too! Just avoid these 5 foods when you make your annual trip to the fair.

These are 5 Foods you Should Never Eat at the Fair!

1) Hotdogs!
Hotdogs are available everywhere and all of the time. When you're eating at the fair pick the really special things that you can only find at a fair!

Hotdogs are available everywhere and all of the time. When you’re eating at the fair pick the really special things that you can only find at a fair!

Why bother? There is nothing special about a hotdog, even if it’s red. You can always get a steamed hotdog just about anywhere there’s entertainment in Maine. The gooey, steamed hotdog rolls are about the best example of disgusting, white bread I can imagine!

2) Hamburgers!
Sometimes you can find a pretty good hamburger at the fair, but you don't need to wait for a fair to get a good burger. Many places serve good burgers.

Sometimes you can find a pretty good hamburger at the fair, but you don’t need to wait for a fair to get a good burger. Many places serve good burgers.

There is nothing special about a hamburger at the fair. The ones you cook at home on your own grill taste better and Maine has many restaurants where the chefs are absolute hamburger-cooking geniuses. Steer clear of the burgers at the fairs and save those calories for something truly worthy!

3) Fries that are made from frozen, pre-cut potatoes!
Walk on by the booth when you see them open a bag of frozen, pre-cut and dump them into the fryolator.

Walk on by the booth when you see them open a bag of frozen, pre-cut and dump them into the fryolator.

If you can’t see the fresh, Maine potatoes going into the device that turns them into delicious strips before going into the fryolator, say “see you later!” to that booth and go find the right place to buy your fries!

4) Pizza
The fair isn't the place to get a good pizza!

The fair isn’t the place to get a good pizza!

Pizza at the fair is usually pre-cooked, sold by the soggy slice and sitting around (for who knows how long) under the heater lights. In other words, it’s not very good. Once again, Maine has its fair share of pizza restaurants that excel in making the perfect pizza pie. The pizza booths where they make your pizza fresh to order aren’t much better. You’re wasting precious time waiting for your pizza (could be a half hour or longer) and 9 times out of 10 they burn it!

5) Caramel Covered Apples!
Looks good on the outside, but is that caramel covering a high-quality apple or a mealy, mushy mess?

Looks good on the outside, but is that caramel covering a high-quality apple or a mealy, mushy mess?

I love caramel covered apples but my experience at the fairs with apples has been disappointing. Under the luscious layer of thick caramel is an apple that’s mushy, mealy and covered with bruises. If you’re going to eat a caramel apple, the best way to do that is to make it yourself with apples you hand picked yourself!

There you have it!

The 5 foods you should never eat at the fair!

Jackie Conn

About Jackie Conn

Jackie Conn is married and has four grown daughters and four grandchildren. She is a Weight Watchers success story. She's a weight loss expert with 25 years of experience guiding women and men to their weight-related goals. Her articles on weight management have been published in health, family and women's magazines. She has been a regular guest on Channel 5 WABI news, FOX network morning program Good Day Maine and 207 on WCSH.