Nosh & Nurture County Fair With Foster Farms

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This is a sponsored post.  I received free product from Foster Farms in exchange for writing this review. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions, as well as the photography, are my own.

Fair season is upon us. And that means family fun, rides, games and extremely fattening food. I'm here today to show you how to make your delicious fair favorites at home, while saving you from excess calories, toxic sugar, chemicals and other unknown substances. 

With Mr. Charming, and his family, being such avid fair-goers, and so many of my friends looking for help with recipes for their littles, this one was a challenge.  I wanted to take the most traditional fair foods,  as well as some of my personal favorites, and put an organic spin on them. It was easy to spotlight Foster Farm's new gluten-free corn dogs as the star of the meal.  They have proven that this particular fair-favorite, kid-friendly food can be gluten-free, dairy-free and healthier than it's deep fried counterpart. 

Corn dogs are Mr. charming's absolute favorite food when we visit the fair. He likes them crunchy, golden brown and piping hot. Every now and then I like to splurge on a traditional childhood favorite as well. However, there weren't many good gluten-free options when it came to making them at home so I had given up.

With Foster Farm's new delicious gluten-free corn dog, we can enjoy them right at home.  Being able to bake them to golden brown perfection makes me feel so much better about Mr. Charming, and the littles in our family, eating something that isn't deep-fried or possibly cross contaminated. 

After cooking some up, we noticed there is no sacrifice in taste when it comes to their gluten-free line. The outer crust is crispy but soft in the center and has a delicious honey & corn sweetness. It's a great alternative to enjoy at home or to pack up and take with you on your favorite fall outings so that you can enjoy the traditional treat along with friends and family.

They are best when cooked in the oven, as we tried them in the microwave as well, and it lost the crispness, which is to be expected when microwaving, but just wanted to mention it.  The inner hot dogs are chicken hot dogs, which I always opt for before beef.  And you know how we hate added nasties here at Nosh & Nurture, Foster Farm's chicken has zero added hormones or steroids. YAY.  One thing I would request that they omit is the sodium nitrite.  This ingredient makes me unable to add this to our dinner list, however, like I said, when replacing chemical-laden, glutenous versions found elsewhere, these corn dogs are amazing. 

Also, for those with a true gluten allergy, or celiacs, Foster Farm's states all products with the GIG certification have less than 10 parts per million of gluten per serving. 

Now that we've got a main course, let's move on to some traditional fair side dishes.  (The remaining recipes and food features are not sponsored by Foster Farm's and we're created solely by me) I was never one to favor the deep-fried anything, however I used to be a real sucker for a good french fry. Traditional fair fries are usually way too greasy and you never know what they're cooked in or  with or if they're safe. However, you can make delicious organic french fries and top with your favorites right at home. I chose organic french fries and topped them with organic hot chili beans. 

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Popcorn is another fall festival treat, but again, traditional popcorn vendors load them with butter and saturated fat.  Although I don't eat popcorn, my family does, and I opt to pop light white organic popcorn for movie nights or to take with us.

Another great thing about fall is the drinks!  Year round all I drink is water, sometimes the occasional glass of blueberry juice or a rice milk latte if we are traveling, but come fall, a nice healthy treat is welcomed.  I opt for organic sparkling apple juice without added sugar, or an organic, lemonade sweetened with a low-glycemic natural sweetener or honey. 

And last but not least.

PIE. 

Sometimes, I think I'd be fine having a slice of pie for dinner.  

I know that doesn't sound very healthy, but I found a pie to enjoy that is baked with almond meal, fresh organic apples and sweetened with ONLY apple juice. Zero refined sugar, gluten-free and delicious.  To spruce it up, I have a coconut milk based caramel you can drizzle on desserts. Remember that you can have treats, just make it a smart choice and you won't feel deprived and most importantly you won't leave yourself feeling weighed down or sick from too much sugar.  

As always, I strive to help girls, guys and families find the balance between eating whole, healthy meals while still finding a way to enjoy traditional comfort foods in a healthier way.

What is YOUR favorite seasonal fair food?  I'd love to have more to experiment with, or hear YOUR ideas on how you make your favorites at home.

Stay tuned, we will be doing a Foster Farm's Gluten-Free Giveaway next week so that some of you lucky readers can score your own delicious goodies!