Last Updated: February 17, 2005, 05:50:19 AM PST

TURLOCK — They made an example out of Bobby the Banana on Wednesday, using the quiet character to prove that looks are deceiving.

Students at Osborn Elementary School were learning that a balanced diet is like a rainbow — they need to mix up the colors of the fruits and vegetables they eat every day.

Tall, gangly Bobby looked like one of the yellow fruits that is good for vision and fighting cancer.

"What color is he inside?" asked Rocio Huerta, a health educator for Stanislaus County Health Services.

"White!" yelled the students clustered in front of Huerta. They already knew that white fruits and veggies like bananas and cauliflower are good for the heart.

Bobby never flinched when his secret was revealed.

The kids were participating in "Color Your Way with 5 a Day," a nutrition education program intended to be fun but informative.

Osborn was the test of the program, but Scott Soiseth, director of food services for the Turlock Unified School District, wants to expand it to all schools. He said the nutrition side ties in with the district's push to improve the health of children.

"We know childhood obesity is an issue," he said. "It's something we're addressing in the Turlock schools."

The California Center for Public Health Advocacy said 30 percent of the state's children are overweight or at risk of being overweight.

Heather Duvall, the health promotion manager for the county, said the major contributors to childhood obesity are exactly what you might suspect: Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits.

The Osborn students didn't have any idle time Wednesday as they moved around the cafeteria, stopping at different stations and high-fiving Bobby and his buddies, Perry the Pear and the Washington apple with no name.

A popular stop was the line of fresh fruits and vegetables that the students could select and take home.

"It's a mini farmers market," said Brian Mathes with Piranha Produce of Modesto. Piranha and Food Maxx were corporate sponsors of the event. They supplied handouts, food and Smarty the hound dog, the Food Maxx mascot.

Along with teaching the importance of five fruits and vegetables a day, Piranha Sales Manager Steve Lay said, "It helps them identify the produce as well."

Fifth-grader Jacob Salinas, 10, didn't have any problem identifying the apple he ate as soon as he got to the end of the line. "It's delicious," he said, although he admitted he didn't know if that was the variety.

"We're going shopping," Veronica Pulido, 11, and Brittany Matlock, 11, chimed in unison as they stood in line to pick out the food.

"I love fruits and vegetables," Veronica said. "I always eat the salad here, and when they don't have it, I eat the carrots."

Daniel Hernandez, 11, was lugging home an eggplant for his mother. "It's good for your memory," he said, reciting from the color charts that divide foods by their properties.

He also said he likes what his mother does with the purple plant.

"She fries it up with flour and eggs and a little salt and pepper," he said. "It's good."

The lessons were sticking with Brian Chavez, who learned "fruits and vegetables can protect you from cancer and make your eyes see better."

And the program had another benefit from Brian's perspective. "It's much better than sitting in class," he said.

More information on the program can be found at www.5aday.org.

Bee staff writer Mike Conway can be reached at 381-0208 or mconway@modbee.com.