"I live right outside of Little Rock, and I love going into the city and seeing the Asian Gate and Garden along the Arkansas River," notes Hart. "I learned that it represents the cultural exchanges between two countries (America and South Korea) and two cities (Little Rock and Hanam City). I was inspired by this, and thought it would be neat to blend two cultures together with food. Arkansas is known for its catfish, and I love Asian food!
"My grandma started making this recipe for my dad when he was little. My mom and I took the original recipe and made it healthier,” says Grace. “I love to adapt recipes and make them healthy. I would serve the Chicken and Grape Salad Lettuce Wraps with a fresh quinoa salad.
"My mom and dad own a small Mexican food restaurant, so I always go in the kitchen and try to make something new with the ingredients we have," says Cody. "This is a great dish since I live in Arizona, because it is not only delicious and healthy but also very refreshing on warm summer days." - Cody Vasquez, age 11, Arizona
Posted by Michael Halpern, Alaska on July 15, 2014
"Being an Alaskan-born kid, I love salmon! I like the salmon my dad prepares, but decided to break out and take it to the next level," explains Michael. "So, I decided to combine some of the ingredients from foods I enjoy to create an original recipe. I also have a friend who is gluten-intolerant, so I made this recipe gluten-free.
"I watch cooking shows on the Food Network. The show Chopped is all about how to create a dish out of different ingredients," says 10-year-old Jane. "For this recipe, I tried to think that way about ingredients that I love--tomatoes, kale, and pasta. I basically tried to replace a traditional meat spaghetti dish with vegetables. For the pasta, I used spaghetti squash. It's fun to scrape it into the bowl, and it looks like a science experiment!
"I love pizza! I can eat it every meal and every day!” admits Jacob. “My Mom and I came up with this low-fat option, which lets us enjoy what we like, while it’s healthier for us. It is gluten-free and low-carb, which allows my Mom to eat it too. I would serve this pizza with a berry smoothie, made with fresh berries and yogurt!" - Jacob Cook, age 9, New Jersey
Posted by Jessica Bakas, New Hampshire on July 15, 2014
"I always try to eat healthy every day, and I think everyone should too,” says Jessica. “I know that some kids think that healthy foods do not taste good, and I hope to turn that around with my dish. I included all of my favorite foods in the dish that are low on calories and have good flavors. Kids, including myself, eat with their eyes, so when I created this recipe I wanted to make the dish look fresh, delicious, and have lots of colors.
Posted by Zienna Peterson, Nebraska on July 15, 2014
"We love tacos at our house! We have them once a week, on taco Tuesdays!” says Zienna. “We wanted to find a healthier way to make them. Something we all love, and simple for our fun family of seven! We love to serve them with different fruits on the side." - Zienna Peterson, age 10, Nebraska
Makes 6 servings
Posted by Max Johnson-Jimenez, New Mexico on July 15, 2014
"We eat this meal often because it is a family favorite,” says Max. “My parents made up the recipe before I was born, and we have continued to change the recipe over the years. Now I like to make it, too. We serve this with corn tortillas, brown rice, cucumber salad, and fruit." - Max Johnson-Jimenez, age 11, New Mexico
Posted by Elyse Cohen, Deputy Director, Let’s Move! on July 14, 2014
We can hardly believe it’s almost here – the 2014 Kids’ State Dinner is this Friday, July 18, and we are officially counting down the days! Be sure to stay tuned each day for updates about the event, and tune in here to catch all the action on Friday.
Posted by Kelly Miterko, Deputy Associate Director, Let’s Move! on July 9, 2014
July is Park and Recreation Month – time to head outside, get involved in activities in your community, and have fun! Having a safe and enjoyable place to play is an important part of staying active and healthy. Many public parks have free programming such as swimming, dance classes, Zumba, picnic opportunities, music concerts, cook outs, and more! Click here to find fun outdoor activities near you this month.
Posted by Kirby Bumpus, Associate Director for Policy, Let's Move! on July 3, 2014
With the summer season in full swing, it’s that time of the year to grab your basket, get outside, and enjoy a picnic with family and friends! Picnics are the perfect time to enjoy light, fresh, and healthy meals and snacks while enjoying the fresh air and great outdoors. Make sure you pack your Frisbee or football to enjoy a fun game and work up an appetite! Just remember to bring lots of water to stay hydrated while having fun. For a tasty and easy picnic drink, try seltzer with a few slices of fresh fruit for a light and summery flavor.
Posted by Aisha Hasan, Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on July 2, 2014
In the Let’s Move! City of New Bedford, Massachusetts residents don’t have reliable transportation to supermarkets, which limits their access to healthy food options. Instead, for their grocery purchases, many of New Bedford’s 95,000 residents often rely on local corner stores that offer limited healthy choices.
Posted by Chelsea Bollinger, Associate Director, White House Visitors Office on July 1, 2014
In keeping with the President and First Lady’s commitment to open the People’s House to as many people as possible, tours of the White House Kitchen Garden are back and now available to community organizations as well as school groups with an interest in gardening and healthy eating. Come smell the beautiful, brightly colored fruits and vegetables in the Kitchen Garden, including herbs grown from Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello, see the vibrant flowers in the Pollinator Garden, and hear the bees buzzing around the White House Beehive.
Posted by Pamela B. Bryant, MS, Health Communications Specialist, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO), CDC on June 30, 2014
During this 3rd anniversary of Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC), we recognize the outstanding efforts of the thousands of providers who have committed to working towards the Initiative’s best practices for healthy nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding support, and screen time.
