Last Updated: September 29, 2004, 02:37:06 PM PDT

"We're trying to promote an increase in physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption," said event coordinator Rocio Huerta, health educator for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.

Tuesday's after-school event at Hanshaw Middle School drew about 300 kindergarten through eighth-graders. Next year, Huerta said, she hopes to reach 500 or more children.

To the county public health director, Dr. John Walker, the stakes are high.

"We're 58th of 58 counties in deaths due to cardiovascular disease," said Walker, adding that the county's standing can be attributed in part to lifestyle choices.

"The time to reach people is when they're young, like this," Walker said as he pointed to a schoolyard full of children.

Ten businesses and community organizations helped with the inaugural event.

The children took to the 14learning and activity stations. They identified the greater source of vitamin C between orange juice and soda. They matched foods such as carrots and candy bars to their appropriate places on the food pyramid.

The children learned about cleanliness from a series of "What's wrong with this" pictures. A display of frightful- looking germs encouraged hand-washing.

Outside, a bounce house, obstacle course and several pumpkin games got the exercise message across. In a dodgeball game, several 13-year-olds took aim at a couple of mascots, Kooky and Rolleroo from Roller King.

Silvano Vasquez, 9, and Margarita Fernandez, 10, who attend Bret Harte Elementary School, gave the same answer when asked what they considered the best part of the afternoon: "Smoothie!"

Of course, not everyone in the neighborhood participated. In front of Hanshaw, about a dozen youngsters thronged a couple of stands, buying ice cream, sodas and snow cones.

Bee staff writer Roger W. Hoskins can be reached at 578-2311 or rhoskins@modbee.com.