Super Apple Man Talks Fruits & Vegetables

Anybody willing to dress up in a red apple costume to teach healthy information to kids deserves a place on our site!!!

Does tonight's dinner menu include the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables? Many of us go through the day without ever considering what's on the food pyramid. But, a Sioux Falls dad hopes to educate kids... who, in turn, might educate their parents.

At first, you might wonder about a man who dresses in an apple costume and jumps around in front of kids. But, Don Blake, who calls himself "Super Apple Man," assures us his mission is as healthy as the food he promotes.

Blake says, "Going out and being comical and having fun in an apple suit and fruit suits, it just kind of gets the kids attention and they want to start eating healthy foods as well."

Blake started an organization called Nature's Candy a year and a half ago. He visits children's groups from Sioux Falls to Brookings and Aberdeen and has even written a book about the benefits of eating right.

Blake says, "In my family is heart disease. High blood pressure, sugar diabetes and God knows how much diseases."

His routine combines music, movement and health information to help children understand why fruits and vegetables are so important.

Blake says, "Kids love MTV and they love to dance and all that so I figure, 'Hey, put that all together and get out there and jump and get their attention and at the same time I can tell them what individual fruits can do for the body and mind.'"

He figures if kids see him enjoying himself while talking about fruits and vegetables, they'll do the same and win in the long-run. To prove it, the 250 pound man, who lost 130 pounds, plans to run 100 miles next month and is training by running non-stop on a treadmill for two hours.

Blake says, "If a kid is eating healthy food their minds are active, their bodies are more active they have more energy. Their thinking process is more clean and it's important to all kids."

The new food pyramid put out by the u-s-d-a recommends general consumption of 2 1/2 cups of vegetables each day and 2 cups of fruit. Those guidelines change based on your age and level of physical activity. You can contact Super Apple Man for more information on his presentations by calling 605-728-2235 or 605-274-0791. He also has books for sale, with the proceeds going back into his travels.