Evolution of eating contests

One sandwich down, one more to go.

It seemed like a simple enough challenge. What's a little sandwich to a 22-year-old college sophomore? If only the sandwich were truly little. The two 8-inch sandwiches filled with six different meats plus the other typical sandwich toppings were a tad more intimidating than your typical trip to the sub shop.

With only 10 minutes to down these subs, Spencer Bowen, a BYU student who enjoys lifting at the gym, was feeling confident half way through his eating challenge, but as he moved into the second sandwich, his confidence wavered.

"I had the first one down easily before halftime," Bowen said.

As the clock wound down, the cheering workers behind the counter dragged out a garbage can just in case Bowen tried once more shoving the remaining part of his sandwich in his mouth before the seconds ran out.

Times up! Admitting defeat, Bowen threw the remaining one inch of his sandwich on the table.

The "Manwich Challenge" at Jimmy John's Subs is just one of many food challenges available in Utah. For years, county fairs have held hot dog and pie eating contests to see who could best the food. Today, television shows such as "Man v. Food" inspire restaurants and adolescents to create their own eating challenges.

In 2008, Adam Richman had the premier of his food reality television show, "Man v. Food," on the Travel Channel. Richman travels across America, taking on extreme eating challenges created by local restaurants.

Food challenges come in many shapes and forms, limited only by the creativity of the participant. While some restaurant have official, exotic items listed on their menus as a restaurant challenge, such as at Jimmy John's Subs, other challenges are created when friends get together at fast-food restaurants.

One of these customer-created fast-food challenges is known as the "Value Menu/Dollar Menu Challenge." Ordering everything listed on the value menu at a fast-food restaurant, the contestant attempts to eat the "meal" as fast as possible.

Josh Hawkins, a sophomore from Spokane, Wash., took the challenge at Wendy's, Taco Bell, McDonalds and Burger King and finished all four of his oversized meals.

"We tried to strategize going about eating it," Hawkins said. "It's just fun to see if you can actually eat that."