When a local elementary school principal called the Hardin County Family and Consumer Sciences Program looking for something to get her students to be healthier, TRYathalon was born. 

The principal reported that her school did very well with competitive challenges, and that her youth were more apt to participate when something was riding on the line. In a school with just over 400 students, it was hard to have speakers come to speak to the full group as well.

The TRYathalon is a way to encourage the youth to try new foods - fruits and vegetables in particular.

On the first visit, the Hardin County Family and Consumer Sciences program spent 3 days - 30 minutes in each classroom- talking to the youth about MyPlate, the importance of eating healthier, balancing your diet and not giving up on a new food you may not have liked the first time you tried it. Activities were done focused on the 5 food groups, and then children were told about the new competition the school would be having. Each time the FCS Program was at their school, they would have the opportunity to try a new fruit or vegetable. They did not have to try the food, and if they did, they didn't have to like the food-  but if they tried it, they would earn a point for their classroom. At the end of the school year, they classroom who had the most students (based off percentages) would earn an end of the year party.

The FCS Program discussed with kids that the only classroom who would earn the party was the one who did the best job eating their fruits and vegetables, enforcing that sweets are okay, in moderation, AFTER you've done a good job eating your healthy foods.

On the first visit, 332 of the 368 students in attendance were willing to try zucchini. 88% of those 332 students were trying zucchini for the very first time.  

On the second visit, 371 of the 394 students in attendance were willing to try blackberries. Almost half of these were trying blackberries for the first time.

On the third visit, 357 of the 389 students in attendance were willing to try bell peppers. 193 of them tried peppers for the first time.

On our final visit, 366 of the 383 students in attendance tried mangoes. 57% had never had a mango before.

The TRYathalon continued throughout the school year with the first place classroom earning gold medals and the class party. The first place classroom was a group of 2nd graders, who received 100% on all 4 visits. They were the only classroom in the school to try every food every time. The second place classroom earned silver medals, a group of 4th graders who are determined to win next year when they're in 5th grade. They had three 100% days, but had one student not try the zucchini. The bronze medals went to the classroom who improved the most throughout the course of the TRYathalon - a group of 20 first graders who were very hesitant to try the zucchini (only 65% of them did!) but had improved to 70% the next time and 79% of the students trying foods by the end of the competition! Their determination and encouragement of one another to not be scared of the new foods certainly got some of the students to try things they otherwise would not have.

Overall, more than 60% average of the more than 400 students tried a new fruit or vegetable for the first time at some point during the competition.