Competitive eater to attend "Junk Food Showdown", at public library | Health

FORT MITCHELL, KY (FOX19) - At a time when most people are reducing their caloric intake, Northern Kentucky resident Joe LaRue plans to pig out for a good cause.  LaRue, also known as Jammin’ Joe LaRue, is a former competitive eater. He will be the special guest eater at the Kenton County Public Library’s Junk Food Showdown which will take place at the William E. Durr Branch Library on Monday, January 16 at 1 p.m.

Rather than gorging himself with junk food, Mr. LaRue will be eating a healthy alternative, bananas. He will attempt to eat 10 bananas in three minutes. Junk Food Showdown coordinator and W.E. Durr children’s coordinator Joel Caithamer explains. “We wanted to show that while junk food is fine occasionally, we should all incorporate healthy snacks and habits into our daily routine.”

Prior to his retirement from eating competitions, Mr. LaRue has eaten 124 buffalo wings in 12 minutes,  21 slices of pumpkin pie in eight minutes, 14 cheese coneys in three minutes and 46 ears of corn in 12 minutes, which was a new record in the National Sweet Corn Eating Championship in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is currently the Food Service Director at Bateman Senior Meals.

The Junk Food Showdown is open to children in grades pre-K through fifth accompanied by a parent.

Children will be making art pieces from various junk foods. There will also be games for the children. One child will be blindfolded and asked to feed the child who is not. Can you imagine having someone with a blindfold shoving junk food into your face? Registration is available at Call 859-962-4032 or visit www.kentonlibrary.org/events; Space is limited so register soon.

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