Fourth and fifth graders throughout the Midwest…

By Kalona News

Fast food is healthy and it’s on a roll. Really.

Fourth and fifth graders throughout the Midwest will learn the benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables in the Lunch Box Derby, a program challenging students to design, build and race model cars made completely from fresh fruits and vegetables.

The program, sponsored by Hy-Vee and the Washington Apple Commission, is geared to giving children a dietary tune-up by teaching them the sizes, shapes, textures, tastes and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables.

“The Derby promotes good nutrition, emphases teamwork and encourages children to be imaginative,” said Ruth Mitchell, director of communications for Hy-Vee. “the object of the exercise is to design a car which goes the farthest, not the fastest.”

Mitchell said the Lunch Box Derby rules are simple for classrooms willing to take the challenge. Students divide into groups of four and make an inventory of available parts: fruits and vegetables of every variety. Each team designs its vehicle on paper, with the teacher slicing the food to make the necessary parts. The cars can be assembled using only three bamboo skewers, four toothpicks and a rubber band to hold it together.

Teams then place their cars at the top of an eight-foot ramp and let them coast. The vehicle traveling the greatest distance takes the checkered flag.

“Sometimes the cars run great,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes they turn into tossed salads. That’s what makes it fun to watch.”

Teachers may receive a free sign-up package, including racing guidelines, stickers and an entry form, by writing to Lunch Box Derby, P. O. Box 550, Wenatchee, Washington 98807 or by calling 509-663-9600.

Hy-Vee has sign-up kit order forms in its stores.

To enter the nationwide contest, teachers should send in names of students on the winning team, a photo of their car and the distance it traveled. Regional winners will be chosen based on performance and car design. The four top teams in the Untied States win an all-expenses paid trip to the national finals in Washington, D.C. in late March. Deadline for entries is February 26.

It is the second year Hy-Vee has sponsored the Derby. Winners in 1998 were four students from Corpus Christi School in Fort Dodge.

The Derby has drawn thousands of entries from throughout the United States since it started in 1994.