LEWISTON – He flailed, jumped, high-fived, low-fived and out-energied every kid on the playground.

Mr. Apple’s aim: Get anyone in earshot to eat five fruits and vegetables a day.

The kids gobbled it up.

“He started dancing and he was shouting, ‘Do the apple! Do the apple!'” said Nadine Jones, 9. She copied the one-hand-behind-your-head, one-arm-out-in-front move.

Minutes later, as she boogied just feet from the red celebrity during recess at Pettingill Elementary, she declared it “the best day ever.”

Mr. Apple and company – the newly formed Lewiston Veggie and Fruit Troupe – came out of the school district’s wellness committee. For the first time, they’re visiting schools this week and next with the upbeat “5 A Day” message.

Wearing a red beanie, blue leggings, red booties and a puffy apple middle, Regis Beaulieu, the school health and wellness coordinator, said he feels the emphasis on wellness has really worked its way into society over the past few years. Schools are rethinking menus, teachers are rethinking physical education classes.

As part of this campaign, schools added health-theme factoids to morning announcements in A to Z fashion.

“I think today is ‘K is for kiwi,'” he said. “We’re really trying to change the eating habits of young kids.”

So at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Beaulieu and AmeriCorps volunteers with the Lots To Gardens program donned apple, peas, carrots and strawberry outfits sewn by the Maine Nutrition Network. The troupe mingled, led group dances and handed out neon-colored business cards marked with Mr. Peas, Professional Vegetable, or Ms. Strawberry, Professional Fruit on the front and healthy reminders on the back.

“For whatever reason, they want to collect these. Us in the costumes, and with the cards, it really sells it,” said Sherie Blumenthal, nutrition coordinator from Lots to Gardens and Mr. Peas.

She and the others played up the new slogan “Eat a Rainbow,” encouraging kids to think about variety.

“This is the fun part of service work,” she said.

Another theme period starts next month, also born from the district wellness committee.

“You’re going to laugh at this: It’s Generosity-slash-Hand Washing,” Beaulieu said. That duel message will be that it feels good to give to others and everyone benefits if we all wash our hands more.

He’s got at least five more outings as an apple first and a growing reputation to maintain as the liveliest fruit in the bunch.

“They look pretty cool,” said Megan Cullins, 9. “After he said, ‘Apples rule!’ everybody screamed.”

At 12:30, an hour into their Pettingill appearance, Beaulieu took off his beanie and wiped the sweat off his brow. The break lasted just a minute.

When more than a dozen third- and fourth-graders jogged over for high-fives and quick hugs good-bye, he was back in character.

“Who loves you? It’s the Apple,” he told the kids.