Jackie Alpers, a photographer from Tucson, Arizona, has documented food at her local county fair for the past couple of years.

"My favorite fair food has elements of the unexpected," she said. "It's bigger and weirder than the food I see every day, and it evokes awe... the more absurd the better."

Alpers, who tries mostly everything she photographs, drew the line when she snapped a picture of Super Fries -- french fries covered in pinto beans, chile sauce and cheese.

"It looked like they weighed about two pounds and that there was enough for a family of four to share," she said. "I'd say there was more saturated fat on that plate than I care to imagine."

But fat and calories aren't enough to stop many fair-goers from indulging in such creations once a year, even when healthy options are available.

Fair foods can be enjoyed in moderation, says Dr. Donald Hensrud, who specializes in nutrition and preventive medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

"Instead of kind of throwing caution to the wind ... it's still possible to enjoy yourself and enjoy some good tastes, yet stay reasonably on track."

For that, Hensrud offered some suggestions:

Before you go

Devise a plan ahead of time.