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Happy Birthday, Let’s Move!

Today we’re celebrating the 3rd birthday of Let’s Move!  On February 9, 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama launched her initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids. We’re amazed at how many partners have come together – everyone from schools, chefs, parents and child care providers, faith and community leaders, museums and gardens, military and business leaders – to play a role in this initiative.

So today, we’re looking back on three years of incredible achievements. Here are some of our favorite moments:

2012:

The First Lady hosted the first-ever Kids’ State Dinner at the White House celebrating healthy lunchtime recipes created by kids. She hosted 54 young chefs – the winners of Epicurious’ recipe challenge – from all 50 states and U.S. territories to a luncheon serving the kids’ delicious and nutritious inventions.

In support of Team USA at the 2012 Olympic Games, the US Olympic Committee and several of its national governing bodies provided beginner athletic programming for free or low cost to more than 1.7 million kids in 2012. During the Olympic Games, Mrs. Obama cheered on Team USA and inspired kids to get active at Let’s Move! London.  

The First Lady joined Disney as the company made an historical commitment to put nutrition guidelines on all food and beverages that it advertises across all its media channels, online destinations, and theme parks, showing that what’s good for America’s families is also good for business.

2011:

At a food access announcement with Walgreens, Supervalu, Walmart and regional grocers, the First Lady announced a historical set of commitments from the private sector to increase access to healthy, affordable food for families across the country.

The First Lady announced that Darden, the world’s largest full service restaurant company, would change its kids and full menus. Darden did what no company  had done before and made it easier for kids and parents to make healthier choices.

MyPlate! The First Lady joined Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin in launching a new icon as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices – it’s such an easy way for families to make sure they’re eating healthy.

We far exceeded our PALA goal of 1 million and announcing that 1.7 million people had achieved their PALAs at Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play.

2010:

For the first time, the President convened an administration wide task force to develop a comprehensive strategy to address childhood obesity. The Childhood Obesity Task Force unveiled its Report and Action Plan that served as a roadmap for this initiative and as a roadmap for the country.

President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 into law, which brought the first nutrition updates to school meals in 30 years.

Mrs. Obama was joined by students from Bancroft School and Hollin Meadows Elementary School for the second planting of the The White House Kitchen Garden, which is the first vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden during World War II.

Marissa Duswalt, RD, is the Let's Move! Associate Director for Policy and Events