There's an ever-increasing variety of foods served at stadiums and state fairs across the country and just as many ways to overindulge. Take advantage of mandatory menu labeling in some states to help make your calorie-conscious decision easier. Information often isn't available, however, so order small because portion sizes usually run large. Sharing items and taking a bite here and there also can keep you in the calorie ballpark. If you're feeling adventurous, swing by stands with more exotic options to find lower-calorie winners like kebabs.
How to be calorie-wise with the food at Ballparks, Amusement Parks, And Fairs:
1. The hot sun can be extremely dehydrating, so be sure to tank up on water, seltzer, and other calorie-free beverages. Avoid spending calories on drinks if you want to keep all 400 meal calories for indulgent foods.
2. Look for foods "on a stick," like grilled chicken kebabs, so you avoid calories from bread. Try corn on the cob as an alternative to a corn dog. Raw shellfish like oysters and shrimp are among the lowest-calorie picks at the beach.
3. Decide before you go: Many ballparks list concession options on their Web sites, and fairs and boardwalks tend to offer the same types of foods. Get as much info ahead of time to find lighter options and regional or nontraditional foods that may be smarter choices.
4. Don't fall for the gimmicky deep-fried pizza, cookies, candy bars, ice cream, and even pickles these days. The calories are not worth it
5. Portion sizes—and calories—of many foods vary even within the same stadium, fair, or beach, so pick the smallest size order to play it safe.
The Fat in some popular foods
If it's fried, about half its calories or more come from fat:
FOOD - PERCENT CALORIES FROM FAT
French fries 43
Fried Oreo 50
Zeppole 50
Fried clams 53
Chicken tenders 55
Medium onion rings 58
Entrées And Sandwiches
RAW OYSTERS WITH COCKTAIL SAUCE
1 dozen oysters + 1 Tbsp cocktail sauce: 130 calories
3 dozen oysters + 3 Tbsp cocktail sauce: 390 calories
1 dozen oysters + 1 Tbsp cocktail sauce: 130 calories
CHILLED U-PEEL-EM SHRIMP
10 shrimp (½ lb)
170 calories
25 shrimp (1¼ lb)
425 calories
10 shrimp (½ lb)
170 calories
MEDIUM (6″) HOT DOG ON A BUN
1 hot dog: 350 calories
1 1/8 hot dogs: 395 calories
½ hot dog: 175 calories
GRILLED MAHI MAHI SANDWICH ON A KAISER ROLL (3½″): 1 Kaiser roll +3 oz mahi mahi + 1 Tbsp tartar sauce + 2 lettuce leaves + 2 slices tomato: 360 calories
1 sandwich: 360 calories
½ sandwich: 180 calories
CHICKEN KEBAB (4″ with 3 pieces chicken thigh)
1 kebab: 180 calories
2 1/3 kebabs: 420 calories
1 kebab: 180 calories
CHICKEN TENDERS (2″) + BARBECUE SAUCE
4 tenders + 2 Tbsp barbecue sauce: 400 calories
4 tenders + 2 Tbsp barbecue sauce: 400 calories
2 tenders + 1 Tbsp barbecue sauce: 200 calories
TUNA SALAD SANDWICH ON A KAISER ROLL (3½″): 1 Kaiser roll + ½ cup tuna salad + 2 leaves lettuce + 2 slices tomato: 430 calories
1 sandwich: 430 calories
½ sandwich: 225 calories
GRILLED SAUSAGE WITH PEPPERS AND ONIONS ON A ROLL (6″): 1 sausage roll: 450 calories
7/8 sausage roll: 395 calories
½ roll: 225 calories
BEEF KEBAB (4″ STRIP SKIRT STEAK)
2 kebabs: 230 calories
3½ kebabs: 400 calories
2 kebabs: 230 calories
LOBSTER ROLL ON A BUN
1 lobster roll: 500 calories
3/4 lobster roll: 375 calories
½ lobster roll: 250 calories
CRAB CAKES
4 crab cakes: 370 calories
4½ crab cakes: 420 calories
3 crab cakes: 280 calories
FRIED CLAMS
1 cup clams: 600 calories
2/3 cup clams: 400 calories
½ cup clams: 300 calories
EM PANADA (3 OZ)
2 empanadas: 600 calories
1 1/3 empanadas: 400 calories
1 empanada: 300 calories
BABY BACK RIBS
½ rack (6 ribs): 930 calories
2½ ribs: 390 calories
2 ribs: 310 calories
CORN DOG (6″)
1 corn dog: 380 calories
1 corn dog: 380 calories
1 corn dog: 380 calories
GRILLED CHICKEN KEBAB SANDWICH
6½″ pita bread + 3 oz grilled chicken thigh + ¼ cup chopped lettuce and tomato + 1 tsp tahini 400 calories
1 sandwich: 400 calories
1 sandwich: 400 calories
Hot Dog
½ medium hot dog: 175 + 1½ bottles beer 225 = 400 calories
U-Peel-Em Shrimp
10 u-peel-em shrimp 170 + 1 small vanilla soft-serve cone: 230 = 400 calories
- protein
Oysters and Lobster Roll
1 dozen raw oysters + 1 Tbsp cocktail sauce: 130 + ½ lobster roll: 250 = 380 calories
- protein
Sausage with Peppers and Onions
½ grilled sausage, peppers, and onions on a roll: 225 + 12 fries + 2 Tbsp ketchup: 200 = 425 calories
Pick just one fried food and set your limit at a couple bites, or peel off and toss the fried crust.
CONDIMENTS
Most condiments add flavor without many calories.
1 tsp mustard 5
2 pickle slices 5
5 Tbsp chopped onions 5
1 Tbsp ketchup 15
½ cup sauerkraut 15
1 Tbsp pickle relish 20
2 Tbsp sautéed onions 60
SNACKS
CORN ON THE COB (7″ EAR)
1 ear corn + 2 tsp butter: 150 calories
2 2/3 ears corn + 1 2/3 Tbsp butter: 380 calories
1 ear corn + 2 tsp butter: 150 calories
GARLIC BREAD (3/4 OZ, 2″ PIECE)
1 piece: 190 calories
2 pieces: 380 calories
1 piece: 190 calories
FRENCH FRIES
30 fries + 5 Tbsp ketchup: 500 calories
24 fries + 4 Tbsp ketchup: 400 calories
12 fries + 2 Tbsp ketchup: 200 calories
SMALL BUTTERED POPCORN
1 order (7 cups) + 4 squirts butter (4 Tbsp): 830 calories
½ order (3½ cups) + 2 squirts butter (2 Tbsp): 420 calories
½ order (3½ cups), no butter: 210 calories
TORTILLA CHIPS WITH QUESO CHEESE DIP
20 chips + 1 cup dip: 920 calories
10 chips + ½ cup dip: 460 calories
5 chips + ¼ cup dip: 230 calories
MEDIUM ONION RINGS (3″): 10 onion rings: 240 calories
17 onion rings: 410 calories
10 onion rings: 240 calories
LARGE SOFT PRETZEL (5 OZ)
1 pretzel
520 calories
3/4 pretzel
390 calories
½ pretzel
260 calories
SHELL-ON PEANUTS (8 OZ BAG)
1 bag (28 shell-on peanuts)
900 calories
½ bag (14 shell-on peanuts)
450 calories
1/3 bag (9 shell-on peanuts)
300 calories
Corn Dog
1 corn dog: = 380 calories
Peanuts: 1/3 bag (about 9) shell-on peanuts: 300 + 2/3 glass lemonade
110 = 410 calories
- good fats
SWEETS
DEEP-FRIED OREOS
6 Oreos: 600 calories
4 Oreos: 400 calories
1 Oreo: 100 calories
COTTON CANDY ON A STICK (4″ BALL)
2 balls cotton candy: 240 calories
3½ balls cotton candy: 420 calories
1 ball cotton candy: 120 calories
BANANA SPLIT DIPPIN' DOTS
1 cup Dots: 340 calories
1 1/8 cups Dots: 380 calories
½ cup Dots: 170 calories
CRACKER JACK (2.875 OZ BAG)
1 bag: 350 calories
1 1/8 bags: 395 calories
½ bag: 175 calories
ZEPPOLES WITH POWDERED SUGAR
3 zeppoles: 300 calories
4 zeppoles: 400 calories
2 zeppoles: 200 calories
MEDIUM CARAMEL APPLE
1 apple: 450 calories
7/8 apple: 395 calories
½ apple: 225 calories
VANILLA SOFT-SERVE CONE
1 large cone: 470 calories
1 medium cone + sprinkles: 400 calories
1 small cone: 230 calories
MEDIUM SNOW CONE
1 cone: 250 calories
1 ½ cones: 375 calories
1 cone: 250 calories
FUNNEL CAKE (6″ CAKE)
1 cake: 280 calories
1 1/3 cakes: 400 calories
1 cake: 280 calories
MEDIUM CANDY APPLE
1 apple: 300 calories
1 1/3 apples: 400 calories
1 apple: 300 calories
Cotton Candy and Funnel Cake
1 ball cotton candy on a stick
120 + 1 funnel cake: 280 = 400 calories
Beverages:
LIGHT BEER (12 OZ BOTTLE)
1 bottle: 100 calories
4 bottles: 400 calories
1 bottle: 100 calories
FRESH LEMONADE (12 OZ GLASS)
1 glass: 160 calories
2½ glasses: 400 calories
2/3 glass: 110 calories
BEER (12 OZ BOTTLE)
1 bottle: 150 calories
2 2/3 bottles: 400 calories
1 bottle: 150 calories
MALTERNATIVE DRINK (16 OZ BOTTLE)
1 bottle: 300 calories
1 1/3 bottles: 400 calories
3/4 bottle: 230 calories
THICK OR FROZEN SHAKE (20 OZ GLASS)
1 shake: 590 calories
2/3 shake: 400 calories
½ shake: 295 calories
Thick Shake
½ container thick or frozen shake: 295 + 1 zeppole
100 = 395 calories
All the calories in lemonade come from sugar; lemon juice is virtually calorie free.