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Let's Move Blog

Posted by Lindsay Matthews on May 3, 2012
Last week, children of mommy bloggers from across the country packed their backpacks, put on their best, and headed to the White House with pen, paper, and questions in hand, ready for a roundtable with First Lady Michelle Obama marking the 20th anniversary of National Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day.
Posted by Megan Slack on May 3, 2012
Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the White House blog. How do you get kids all around the country to get moving,  jumping, and doing the dougie in unison? Beyonce, natch. On May 3 last year—at 1: 42 p.m. to be exact—nearly 600 schools from coast to coast participated in a flash workout, dancing together to Beyonce’s “Move Your Body.” First Lady Michelle Obama even got in on the fun, joining students at Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C. for their rendition of the “Move Your Body” dance. Check it out.
Posted by Julie Curti, USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on May 2, 2012
Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) blog. The public voting period for the Communities on the Move Video Challenge is in full swing! Browse our video gallery and vote for your favorites daily until Friday, May 11th. These videos showcase some of the innovative approaches community and faith-based groups are taking to encourage healthier lifestyles for kids.
Posted by Christina Martinez, Emerson National Hunger Fellow, USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on May 2, 2012
Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) blog. As part of their 2012 annual 4-H National Conference approximately 300 high school student leaders from across the United States, U.S. territories, and Canada gathered in the greater Washington, DC area. 4-H seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning, and engage young people in the efforts of the USDA to produce “real results for real people.” The conference aims to empower and mobilize the 4-H students to create positive, meaningful change in their communities.
Posted by Drew Brees & Dominique Dawes, Co-Chairs of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition on May 1, 2012
Ed. Note: This was cross-posted from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition blog. National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is the perfect time for children and families to get outside and play together! You don’t have to do back flips in the Olympics or throw a football 40 yards down the field to be active and break a sweat. Whether you ride your bike to work or school or chase after your dog in the park, physical activity can be fun and it helps you feel good too.
Posted by Ali Kelley, White House Council on Environmental Quality on April 27, 2012
With summer right around the corner, this is a perfect time to get moving! For most kids, the end of the school year means more free time for adventures, outdoor activities, and fun with friends. At the same time, we know that a few months of inactivity can lead to critical gaps in health and education that put kids at risk for childhood obesity and learning loss. For parents, keeping their kids healthy and active during the summer requires planning and preparation. 
Posted by Deborah Kane, National Director, U. S. Department of Agriculture on April 23, 2012
Last week USDA released a new farm to school grant program designed to help give children a sense of where their food comes from and increase the availability of local foods in schools. Joined by students at Southern High School in Harwood, MD, as well as school and elected officials, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan made the announcement in an on-campus greenhouse. One of the first things she noticed when she walked into the greenhouse was the Abe Lincoln tomato seedlings. President Abraham Lincoln created the United States Department of Agriculture 150 years ago. At the time, there were farmers everywhere, but today that is no longer true. In fact, young children, increasingly removed from agriculture, are more likely to recognize corporate logos than carrot tops growing from the soil.
Posted by Diane Harris, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on April 23, 2012
A’ni (strawberry), adalonige gado galadisgi (carrot), gagama gagvmi (cucumber), gvgisdi (watermelon), and svkta (apple) -- Cherokee words for some of the favorite salad bar items for kids in Sequoyah Schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Angelia Dowty is the food service director for Sequoyah Schools, which includes an elementary Cherokee language immersion school and a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) high school. These schools provide food to more than 500 Native American students and staff. Angelia serves all of these kids a variety of fruits and vegetables from salad bars every day. Angelia said, “When I took over the food service program 3 years ago, there were some sweet treats on the salad bars, like puddings. I took all of those out and now only serve fruits and vegetables on my bars.”
Posted by Ali Kelley, White House Council on Environmental Quality on April 20, 2012
Starting this weekend, your family can celebrate National Park Week (April 21-29) by enjoying any of America’s 397 national parks for free! National parks are home to our country’s most spectacular natural and cultural landscapes – not to mention thousands of lakes, rivers, trails, and open spaces that invite families to get out and get moving!  
Posted by Annie Ceccarini, Outreach and Education Coordinator, The People’s Garden Initiative on April 20, 2012
Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) blog. DC Truck Farm is a collaborative effort between D.C. Central Kitchen (DCCK) and USDA’s People’s Garden Initiative. Now in its second year, this garden on wheels travels around the Nation’s Capital teaching urban youth about agriculture, soil science and nutrition education. It got moving thanks to the support of many partners in the DC metropolitan area. We recently caught up with the District’s very own truck farmers at DCCK to capture their first planting of the season, ask about lessons learned last year and talk plans for 2012. Check out the video.
Posted by Arthur Neal, Deputy Administrator, AMS Transportation and Marketing Program on April 18, 2012
Ed Note: This was cross-posted from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) blog. Every day, thousands of local farmers and ranchers work hard to ensure that their communities have access to a diverse range of fresh, healthy affordable foods. While nutritious food is a cornerstone of society’s physical health, a vibrant community also includes sustainable economic opportunities. By funding projects that support these goals, USDA’s Farmers Market Promotion Program continues to make a difference for farmers at the local level.
Posted by Kam Sripada, Office of Child Care, Administration for Children & Families, Department of Health & Human Services on April 12, 2012
Since the launch of Let’s Move! Child Care in June 2011, we’ve been receiving success stories from child care home providers, centers, Head Start programs, and all kinds of communities across the country. Here are a few examples of exciting activities tribes have launched to bring Let’s Move! Child Care into the lives of children and families.
Posted by Kori Schulman on April 11, 2012
Just over two-years ago, the First Lady launched Let’s Move!, a comprehensive initiative dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Parents play a key role in both making healthy choices for children now and teaching children to make healthy choices for themselves. But in today’s busy world, this isn’t always easy. So Let’s Move! offers parents the tools, support and information they need to make healthier choices while helping develop healthy eating habits in children that will last a lifetime.
Posted by Lindsay Matthews on April 10, 2012
Tonight, First Lady Michelle Obama issued a challenge to contestants on the Biggest Loser – and they need your help. Throughout the season, contestants have worked hard to make lifestyle changes to improve their health and enhance their lives. Continuing these changes beyond the show and inspiring others to embark on the same live-saving journey is the next challenge for the remaining six contestants.