Dr. Judith Palfrey, joins students in the cafeteria at the Albert Argenziano School in Somerville, Massachusetts
In Minnesota, more and more schools are finding that salad bars are a popular way to offer kids a rainbow of healthy foods. “Kids love it. They get to choose what they want and how much. It doesn’t take much to get them onboard,” said Lisa Gemlo, Fruit and Vegetable Coordinator and Farm to School Planner for the Minnesota Department of Health. Lisa is working with the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative to help schools throughout Minnesota get salad bars and stock them with delicious produce items. From a health standpoint, this is wonderful. “We know that the majority of Minnesota school-aged children do not eat the daily recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. Salad bars provide an easy and proven way to get kids to eat more of these foods. In the end, this builds healthier students who are ready to learn,” said Gemlo.
Students enjoyed the new Windy City Chicken lunch, made possible by a unique collaboration USDA agencies, a Rachael Ray, and the Chicago schools system.
Earlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed schools that met the First Lady’s goal to double the number of participants in the HealthierUS School Challenge in a year to the White House to celebrate their achievement.
Watch First Lady Michelle Obama's full remarks here.
Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the USDA blog.
Given that many children eat as many as two meals a day at school, it’s pretty clear that schools have a vital role to play if we’re going to combat the disturbing rise in childhood obesity we’ve seen in recent years. Just as clear is that schools participating in USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge honored at the White House this week demonstrate the kind of deep commitment needed to create and maintain a healthy school environment. These schools are leaders that set an example for schools across the country.
Recently we took your questions about Let's Move!, the First Lady's initiative to end childhood obesity and posed them directly to First Lady Michelle Obama. View her responses here.
Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the USDA blog
We know that a healthy nation starts with healthy people. A good diet helps kids stay active and focused at school. And staying healthy can increase your productivity on the job.
But sometimes families who want to make healthier eating choices are confused by conflicting messages, or don’t have time to do the research.
Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the White House blog.
First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Chefs join children from Bancroft and Tubman Elementary Schools to harvest vegetables during the third annual White House kitchen garden fall harvest Oct. 5, 2011. Mrs. Obama planted the White House kitchen garden to help connect kids with the food they eat – an essential component of her Let’s Move! initiative. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Today, First Lady Michelle Obama was joined by a big group of helpers for the third annual White House kitchen garden fall harvest. Students from Bancroft and Tubman Elementary Schools got their hands dirty picking produce from the garden and then had a chance to try some of the vegetables that they picked on grilled garden pizza.
On October 3, Katie O'Malley, the First Lady of Maryland welcomed 20 chefs to the Governors Mansion in Annapolis. They ranged in age from 4 to 14 and were happy to take on the task of preparing Maryland grown produce into a special treat for the crowd who had gathered to celebrate ChopChop Maryland.
My fellow President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) members and I recently visited Miner Elementary School in Washington, D.C. led by Principal LaVonne Taliaferro-Bunch. The goal? To not only witness a model physical education (PE) program in action, but to experience it – in other words, walk the talk.
