Hy-Vee promotes healthy living at Iowa State Fair

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — State fair cuisine usually is one of those things people should avoid if they care about their cholesterol level and waistline. But one retail chain is offering an alternative at the Iowa State Fair's opening ceremonies.



Supermarket chain Hy-Vee and Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative will offer ways for attendees to stay healthy, starting with a yoga session at 6 a.m. led by Andrew Salgado, a personal trainer and manager at Hy-Vee Fitness at a store in Des Moines. Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative is an effort led by private industry to make Iowa the healthiest state by 2016.



At the grand concourse, Hy-Vee chef Andrew Kintigh will demonstrate a healthy, on-the-go breakfast. At the end of the ceremonies, Zumba instructor Katie Moulton will lead a class for an estimated 5,000 participants. The company will also have an information booth that will offer information about the NuVal nutrition-scoring system, watermelon slices, and healthy lifestyle tips and information.



"It's kind of a secret that the fair has healthy options," Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative project manager Liz Cox said. "The combination of Hy-Vee chefs, Hy-Vee dietitians and the Zumba instructors will show that these lifestyle choices — good nutrition and healthy activity — are available and can be enjoyed by people in all walks of life."