Fear Factor Food Program for Teens

I did this program as one of my weekly summer reading programs. We had about 30 kids attend and 16 participate. The rules were as follows:

--eat the full portion given to them of each food item
--chew each item - even the liquid-type items (not just gulp or swallow)
-- show me their empty mouth after eating each item

if NO ONE was able to complete the whole program, I would eat one of everything (YIKES). They could choose at any time not to participate any further. They came up one at a time for their bites. I was very surprised that so many made it through to the very end.

The items we ate were:

--cherry tomatoes filled with chives and cream cheese (pimples) and they had to squeeze this into their mouths first (pop it). These were actually pretty good but some really hate tomatoes
--spoonful of baby spinach lasagna (baby poop)
--whole raw oysters
--clam milk shake (ice cream and minced clams blended)
--dried meal worms (in three flavors)
--chocolate covered crickets and ants
I had a couple of kids who were allergic to the oysters/clams (or said they were) so they ate (made by some of my TAG members) spaghettios mixed with chocolate syrup and whip cream instead of these items - a large bowl to make up for it only being one items over two items.

As I mentioned, I had four kids make it to the bitter end so they chose to mix all the leftovers (EVERYTHING) in the blender and drink a Dixie cup full. The one with the fastest time won. It was disgusting and smelled awful. Three of the four did drink it but one almost threw up.

The prize was a basket of good snacks (chips, popcorn, soda, etc.) and movie theater passes. Our cable office taped the whole thing and they put together a brilliant DVD production of it - very hilarious to watch. Everyone really had fun with this. That's it. If anyone has questions, feel free to email me off list.

Jennie Garner, Asst Director/Teen Librarian
North Liberty Community Library
PO Box 320
North Liberty, IA 52317-0320
Ph 319-626-5731
jgarner@north-liberty.lib.ia.us