Iowa State Fair Food - Stick Food Sells

The Iowa State Fair of 2010 will be introducing frozen Twinkies logs, chocolate-covered tiramisu, chocolate mousse bar, strawberry cream bar, Octodogs, and Fair Squares as the new "stick" foods available this year. It seems the fair food stick craze sticks around and grows annually. During the mid-90s, other state fairs were having great success with the deep-fried Snickers and it didn't take long to catch on at the Iowa State Fair. During the early 2000s, media coverage of fair food on a stick resulted in lines that could hardly be handled.

Also included in the Iowa State Fair's food on a stick line-up include: pork, deep-fried candy bars, deep-fried Oreos, meatballs, dog bites [mini hot dogs], potato lollipops, apple fries, mocha latte ice cream bar, pineapple, frozen s'mores, key lime rounds, and hot beef sundae [beef quarters]. And probably more. Now you take your pick as you walk throughout the fairgrounds and maybe add a glass of ice cold lemonade. Or maybe a strawberry smoothie looks good! Turkey legs and ethnic foods also abound.

Of course you must do a lot of walking to pay for the treats as the deep-fried Snickers is 570 calories and the fried Oreos come in at only 320 calories. Less fattening food might produce less guilt - but people figure they're at the fair and only eat it once a year. And quite likely it wouldn't sell - do you really want to eat a bowl of lettuce at the Fair? Of course you can get good balanced family type food at any of the church stands. Home-made goodies of all types are offered to hungry fair-goers. The pork tent's food line is also always long as folks come to know the sandwiches and meals are always tasty.

State Fair vendors often continue family tradition of selling fair food. Many of their parents and grandparents originally owned food stands. They say it gets in your blood this time of year and you can't wait to get started. It's a time we hope people throw caution to the wind and come out to the Iowa State Fair for a good time and to make fun memories.

Many of the vendors remark they only recall sno-cones, corn dogs and funnel cakes from their childhood days. They wonder what their parents and grandparents would think of all the foods available today.

Go to the Iowa State Fair and enjoy!!!