6/6/2011 3:30:00 AMRegis Balaban is finalist in national Original Health Nut competition

June 6, 2011, 4:30 AM

By Michael McIntyre, Tipoff columnist, The Plain Dealer

Health nut: Regis Balaban, executive director of food and child nutrition services for the Cleveland School District, is a finalist in the national Original Health Nut competition, sponsored by the California Walnut Commission.

Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic, was one of a handful of judges who made Balaban one of six finalists for the title. Online voting continues through next week at this site: theoriginalhealthnut.com.

The winner would be someone who inspires others and serves as a good example of someone who makes healthy choices.

Balaban has been with the school district, which hasn't been seen as innovative in its nutrition choices, for three decades.

He's credited with a program to bring fresh produce into the schools three times per week and started a program to provide fresh salads at least two days a week at 44 schools. And in Cleveland schools, there's no pop in the vending machines.

As for his personal health routine, Balaban takes the stairs to his fifth-floor office every day.  Here we just thought the elevator at the school administration building was broken again.