Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor
During the month of October at Jackson State University, many students look forward to Homecoming activities and the Mississippi State Fair. These events are often celebrated with consuming seasonal food favorites like funnel cakes, jumbo turkey legs, candy and caramel apples, and the very popular chicken-on-a-stick. What would these festivities be without food?
However, before you go into complete food frenzy. Do not get too comfortable with these unhealthy seasonal selections. Although these foods are pleasing to the taste buds they are usually packed with lots of calories, like the funnel cake which is a cake made of batter that is poured through a funnel into hot fat or oil, deep-fried until crisp, and served sprinkled with sugar or other toppings.
The fried dough and refined sugar are bad enough, but many do not know that it is the trans fat that is the most concerning part about this popular treat. When it comes to eliminating partially hydrogenated oils from their deep fryers, amusement park vendors are not under the same pressure as restaurants. As a result, funnel cakes have the potential to put a strain on your cardiovascular system and waist line. One funnel cake is 760 calories and 44 grams of fat.
That giant turkey leg which is sold by many vendors at most JSU football games might not seem like it is packed with calories but surprisingly consists of 1,136 calories and 54 grams of fat. This is a treat you might want to consider sharing with two other friends.
The caramel and candied apple is a treat that mixes healthy with a sweet twist. However you must be careful of consumption and serving sizes. One candied apple has 215 calories and 37.9 grams of sugar. According to calorieking.com, it takes 60 minutes of walking to burn off the calories in a candied or caramel apple.
Another popular JSU game treat is the chicken-on-a-stick, but buyers beware, one deep fried chicken-on-a-stick is equal to 600.
Gentle Calhoun, a junior computer engineering major from Ruleville, Miss. said he loves the fall because he can go purchase funnel cakes at anytime.
“My favorite treat is the funnel cake. I get it every time the fair comes at anytime. The funnel cake comes around once a year so I like my funnel cakes with a lot of powdered sugar. It’s the best way to have it,” said Calhoun.
Ivory Jones, a senior mass communications major from Huntington, New York said she prefers more savory fall treats.
“I love jumbo fried turkey legs; it’s so tender in the inside. It is just something I look forward to every year. I try to eat healthy most of the time but sometimes you have to treat yourself,” said Jones.
You don’t have to deprive yourself of these treats but know your limits and practice portion control. So while you enjoy your JSU Homecoming Week 2013 don’t get too comfortable with comfort foods.
