The Dallas Morning News asked the Cooper Clinic to conduct a nutritional analysis based on many of the ingredients in the eight dishes that were named finalists for this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards, which showcase the best new foods.

The following is a very rough estimation of the foods’ nutritional value. Some of the concessionaires consider their recipes to be a state secret, while others didn’t have exact measurements. Hardly anyone knew how much oil would be used to fry up a serving of their tasty treats.

— Eric Aasen

Quarter Pounder with Cheese, McDonald’s

Calories 510

Carbohydrates 40 g

Sugar 9 g

Sodium 1,190 mg

Fat 26 g

Personal Pan Pizza, 6-inchpepperoni, Pizza Hut

Calories 610

Carbohydrates 67 g

Sugar 6 g

Sodium 1,410 mg

Fat 26 g

Oreo Sonic Blast,14 ounces, Sonic

Calories 680

Carbohydrates 78 g

Sugar 70g

Sodium 460 mg

Fat 37 g

FAIR FOOD

FAST FOOD

Deep FriedS’mores Pop-TartA Pop-Tart with a chocolate, peanut butter, s'mores flavor, battered and fried; drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream.

Fried Texas CaviarBlack-eyed peas fried and laced with special spices, blended with Old Bay seasoning; flavors: regular or spicy.

Deep FriedFrozen MargaritaSweet funnel cake batter mixed with tequila; fried, dusted with a lemon-lime mixture and served in a salt-rimmed plastic glass.

Fried BeerFried beer-filled pretzel pocket; bite into it and the beer pours out, serving as a dipping sauce.

Fried ChocolateWhite chocolate and a cherry stuffed into a brownie, dipped into chocolate cake batter and fried; topped with powdered sugar and a cherry sauce and served with chocolate-flavored whipped cream.

Fried LemonadeLemon-flavored pastry made with lemonade, baked, then fried; glazed with a mix of lemonade, powdered sugar and lemon zest.

Fernie’s Fried Club SaladA 12-inch spinach wrap surrounding diced ham and chicken, shredded lettuce, carrot strips, tomatoes, sharp cheddar and bacon; fried, then topped with deep-fried sourdough croutons and served on shredded romaine lettuce.

Texas FriedFrito PieChili, accented with a hint of sharp cheddar, encased in Fritos; battered and fried.

Calories 317

Calories from fat 145

Carbohydrates 33 g

Sugar 0 g

Sodium 865 mg

Fat 16 g

Calories 740

Calories from fat 227

Carbohydrates 102 g

Sugar 37 g

Sodium 799 mg

Fat 25 g

Calories 397

Calories from fat 135

Carbohydrates 58 g

Sugar 4 g

Sodium 440 mg

Fat 15 g

Calories 434

Calories from fat 210

Carbohydrates 52 g

Sugar 23 g

Sodium 240 mg

Fat 23 g

Calories 832

Calories from fat 321

Carbohydrates 115 g

Sugar 69 g

Sodium 507 mg

Fat 36 g

Calories 749

Calories from fat 269

Carbohydrates 114 g

Sugar 77 g

Sodium 660 mg

Fat 30 g

Calories 1,021

Calories from fat 645

Carbohydrates 73 g

Sugar 9 g

Sodium 1,979 mg

Fat 72 g

Calories 599

Calories from fat 417

Carbohydrates 27 g

Sugar 4 g

Sodium 967 mg

Fat 46 g

DAVID WOO, NATHAN HUNSINGER/Staff Photographers; TOM SETZER/Staff Artist

NOTE: Nutritional values for State Fair of Texas foods are estimates.

SOURCES: Cynthanne Duryea, registered dietitian, Cooper Clinic; McDonald’s; Pizza Hut; Sonic; Dallas Morning News research

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Recommended daily intakefor a standard 2,000-calorie diet

Total fat 65 g

Sodium 2,400 mg

Carbohydrates 300 g

Fair food vs. fast food