In my capacity as floundering elder blogger-statesman of the Minor League scene, I’ve written about more than my share of patently unhealthy and/or ridiculously oversized and/or ridiculously conceived concession items.

Y’know, like this “Ramen Dawg” that the Salem Red Sox served during last month’s “College Night” promotion.

But there’s a yin to every yang, a Jekyll to every Hyde, a Shobam to every Yobam, which is to say that for the remainder of today’s post I will feature some downright healthy ballpark undertakings.

Let’s start with the Akron Aeros, who, perhaps in atonement for the “Inside Out Burger,” recently staged a promotion with the undeniably awesome name of “Vegan Iron Chef.” Director of promotions Christina Shisler explains:

For Vegan Iron Chef we have partnered with the “Who’s Your Mama? Earth Day Festival” to bring in Vegan Iron Chef contestants and a Vegetable Carving Championship Competition to Canal Park on April 22 (Earth Day)! There will be eight chefs making vegan dishes for a table of judges. Fans will get to watch, as the competition begins when gates open, and then sample vegan food throughout the game.

Two of the competitors in action.

The results of the chefs’ labor:

The judges assemble

And, yes, there was also a Vegetable Carving Championship.

Team-logo Cantaloupe. (Cantalogo?)

The runners-up:

Winner, winner, meat-free dinner!

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For another excellent bit of healthy ballpark living we go to the Quad Cities, as the River Bandits staged a “Race the Game” promotion as a follow-up of sorts to their inaugural 5K race.  Director of promotions and marketing Shane Huff explains:

[We] invited one of the top overall finishers [in the 5K race] to come back to today’s game and literally race the game. This contestant, Marvin McMeekan, will try to comlete a 9-mile run on a treadmill - placed on the outfield berm for everyone to see – before the game becomes official. If Marvin can beat the game, EVERYONE in attendance wins a prize. We’re going to interview Marvin before the game and do live look-ins throughout the game to help build suspense.

Marvin in action.

Sean Flynn photography

I, for one, never had any doubt that Marvin would complete the task. And he did, ably. Writes Huff:

It went very well. The live look-ins between innings really helped get the crowd get into it. And Marvin crushed it! He completed the 9 miles with just under an inning to spare!

It went so well that we’re already discussing plans on doing it again later this summer on a night with a bigger crowd and better prizes.

Race the Game is a great, easily adaptable idea and if it doesn’t catch on then I will be deeply disappointed in the entire industry. (Crushed, even, in the non I-just-outraced-a-ballgame-sense-of-the-word.)

And if you want add a real sense of drama to the whole thing, then invite me to be the runner. I’d probably fail, and failing is what I do best (especially in front of crowds).

On that note I shall conclude. Tomcat says “Have a Great Weekend!”

More on that guy in an upcoming post.

benjamin.hill@mlb.com

twitter.com/bensbiz