The State Fair of Texas runs through October 18 this year, and if there’s one event capable of derailing weeks of consistent eating in a single afternoon, it’s a day spent wandering Fair Park surrounded by fried everything. The good news is that a day at the Fair doesn’t have to mean starting over on Monday.

The simplest strategy is what registered dietitians often call the eat-first rule: have a normal, balanced meal before heading to the Fair rather than arriving hungry. Showing up on an empty stomach all but guarantees over-ordering once the smell of fried food takes over, while eating something with protein and fiber beforehand keeps decision-making a little more level-headed once you’re standing in line.

From there, the split-and-share approach does more good than most people expect.

Fair portions are enormous by design, and splitting a fried classic between two or three people means everyone gets a taste without anyone finishing a full portion alone.

Heat and hydration deserve just as much attention as food choices. A full day at Fair Park in Texas heat, walking for hours between exhibits and midway rides, adds up to a serious amount of sweat loss. Aiming for a bottle of water for every fair food or drink helps offset that and tends to naturally slow down how much gets eaten in a single sitting.

A step target helps frame the day differently as well. A typical day at the Fair easily covers 15,000 to 20,000 steps between parking, exhibit halls, and the midway, which goes a long way toward balancing out the day’s less nutritious choices. Thinking of the walking itself as part of the day’s activity, rather than an afterthought, reframes the whole visit.

Finally, pick one indulgence rule and stick to it: one fried item, one dessert, one splurge, whatever matters most, and treat everything else as optional rather than mandatory. The Fair only comes around once a year, and one thoughtfully chosen treat does more for enjoyment than trying to sample everything on the midway. For more on how sugar affects energy and appetite over the course of a day, see our earlier piece, The Truth About Sugar.