Healthy State Fair Foods

Energy Mix

Vendor: Simply Nuts & More
How It’s Prepared: The energy mix is a combination of almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and raisins, all served raw.
Why It’s Good for You: The hidden health benefit of these nuts is vitamin E, an important antioxidant that has been linked with a reduced risk of some cancers and cardiovascular disease. Also, you’ll get a dose of protein to keep you full longer while walking through the exhibits.
Background Story: Simply Nuts & More has been at the fair for fifteen years, but it is just a natural extension of the store, which has been a family run business for nineteen years; the current storefront is located in downtown Excelsior.
Essentials: $4, half a pound
Find it here.

Bison Jerky

Vendor: Minnesota Buffalo Association
How It’s Prepared: It’s not food on a stick; it is a stick.
Why It’s Good for You: Bison is lower in both fat and calories than other meats yet higher in iron and zinc.
Background Story: Every spring the Minnesota Buffalo Association holds a contest for the best jerky, judged in part by a State Fair committee, and the winning sticks are then sold at the Fair.
Essentials: $3, one stick in a one-ounce package
Find it here.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Buffalo Association

Chicken Artichoke Pita

Vendor: Mario’s
How It’s Prepared: Marian Dragomir only uses fresh ingredients to prepare his chicken artichoke pita, and instead of cooking with oil, he uses a mixture of wine, teriyaki, and spices.
Why It’s Good for You: Artichokes are low in saturated fat and cholesterol but high in several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K.
Background Story: Dragomir’s recipes combine ideas from his world travels, particularly his yearly trips to southern Italy.
Essentials: $6, one pita
Find it here.

Spicy Black Bean Burger

Vendor: Boulevard Grill
How It’s Prepared: The frozen patty is grilled and served on a bun with lettuce and tomato.
Why It’s Good for You: With only 1.5 grams of fat and almost no cholesterol, it is a great alternative to its beefy counterpart and still a great source of iron.
Background Story: Keeping with Boulevard's theme for this year—local products and healthy options—the produce served on this burger is all locally grown.
Essentials: $4.50, three-ounce black bean burger
Find it here.

Photo courtesy of Boulevard Grill

Grilled Shrimp on-a-stick

Vendor: Fish & Chips Seafood Shoppe (two locations)
How It’s Prepared: Not battered or fried—just plain, grilled shrimp
Why It’s Good for You: A great source of protein with approximately thirty calories per serving
Background Story: This grilled item is made as a healthy alternative to other deep-fried seafood cooked at Fish & Chips Seafood Shoppe, a vendor at the Fair for almost forty years.
Essentials: $6.50, ten shrimp per stick (approximately two-and-a-half servings)
Find it here.

Photo courtesy of Fish & Chips Seafood Shoppe

Crawfish

Vendor: Ragin Cajun
How It’s Prepared: You can get the Cajun seasoned crawfish served cold or heated in spicy water for some extra kick.
Why It’s Good for You: The amino acid tyrosine, found naturally in crawfish, energizes the brain by building mood-regulating chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.
Background Story: This will be Ron Jacob’s tenth year of bringing authentic Cajun to Minnesota.
Essentials: $4.50, half dozen; $8.50, whole dozen
Find it here.

Fresh Whole Produce

Vendor: The Produce Exchange at the Midtown Global Market
How It’s Prepared: Individually sold peaches, nectarines, apples, and Minnesota-grown plums are served washed and ready to eat.
Why It’s Good for You: Everything is fresh, not deep-fried
Background Story: The vendor, part of Midtown Global Market, joined the State Fair in 2007 and won the Outstanding Outdoor Food Award. The newcomer excited Fairgoers with nutritious, fresh, and ready-to-eat produce.
Essentials: $1–$2, piece of whole fruit
Find it here. 

Photo courtesy of The Produce Exchange at the Midtown Global Market

Frozen Fruit on-a-stick

Vendor: Veggie Pie
How It’s Prepared: A mix of frozen pineapple and grapes on a skewer
Why It’s Good for You: Manganese, found in pineapple, is needed for healthy, glowing skin. These fruits are also a great source for vitamin C.
Background Story: Veggie Pie operated at the Fair for twenty years before realizing what it was missing—an item served on a stick. Co-owner Alyce Lere (her husband, Fred, is also an owner) said she served fruit pizzas along with her Veggie Pies before adding more fruit products. The vendor now serves fruit in a bowl, watermelon, and frozen fruit on a stick.
Essentials: $1.75, eight to ten pieces of fruit
Find it here.

Photo courtesy of Veggie Pie

Fruit Bowl

Vendor: Andres Watermelon
How It’s Prepared: Daily-delivered grapes, melons, strawberries, and pineapple fill a cereal-sized bowl.
Why It’s Good for You: A date with potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fiber boosts your energy to make it through an afternoon at the Midway or an evening concert at the Grandstand.
Also, for the sweet tooth looking to indulge but not go overboard, this year Andres Watermelon will offer strawberries, pineapples, and bananas dipped in dark chocolate on a stick.
Background Story: A nineteen-year Fair veteran, this vendor went from serving only watermelon to offering a mix of fruits and veggies. The company is named after the owners’ only son, Andre.
Essentials: $5, fresh fruit; $6, stick of fruit dipped in dark chocolate
Find it here.

Photo courtesy of Andres Watermelon

Pickle on-a-stick

Vendor: Pickle Dog
How It’s Prepared: Straight out of the pail
Why It’s Good for You: This State Fair staple features low fat, low cholesterol, and few calories (approximately sixteen per serving), proving why Fairgoers should keep it simple.
Background Story: The lack of pickle competition drew owner Gary Benson to the Fair eighteen years ago.
Essentials: $2, one large pickle per stick
Find it here.  

Photo courtesy of Pickle Dog

Veggie Platter

Dole Whip

Vendor: Dole Whip
How It’s Prepared: Soft-serve frozen treat made from Dole Foods juice. Fairgoers can order pineapple, raspberry, or vanilla.
Why It’s Good for You: This fat-free, non-dairy dessert helps keep patrons cool at only twenty calories per ounce.
Background Story: Owners Donald and Patricia Bougie brought Dole Whip to the Fair twenty years ago after seeing it at a Disney theme park.
Essentials: $3, cake cone; $4, waffle cone or bowl, approximately four ounces
Find it here. 

Photo courtesy of Precision Foods

Milk

Vendor: Midwest Dairy Association
How It’s Prepared: The Midwest Dairy Association serves 2 percent white milk and 1 percent chocolate milk at a bargain price to promote dairy consumption across the state.
Why It’s Good for You: Each glass of milk provides roughly 30 percent of the calcium you need daily.
Background Story: A State Fair classic for more than fifty years, the all-you-can-drink milk booth went through more than 30,000 gallons last year.
Essentials: $1, all-you-can-drink milk
Find it here.

Photo courtesy of Midwest Dairy Association