Eat Healthy
President Obama "Crashes" the Kids' State Dinner
Ed note: this was first published on wh.gov
Today, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the first-ever Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House, welcoming 54 budding chefs to a formal luncheon in the East Room. The guests, all between the ages of 8 and 12, represent all U.S. states, three territories and the District of Columbia.
First Look: Delicious Recipes from the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge
2012 Edition
On Monday August 20, 2012 First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome 54 talented young chefs to the White House for the first-ever Kids State Dinner. The guests -- ages 8-12 -- are all winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, and each of them created an original recipe that is healthy, original and affordable, and contains the five food groups (fruits, veggies, protein, low-fat dairy, and whole grains).
Behind the Scenes: Getting Ready for the Kids' State Dinner
We're all pretty excited to greet 54 amazing young chefs at the White House on Monday, August 20, when First Lady Michelle Obama will host the first-ever Kids' State Dinner. Joining us will be the talented young people (and their parents) whose recipes submitted for the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge most impressed the judges, and best met all the criteria: A healthy, original and affordable lunch that contains the five food groups (fruits, veggies, protein, low-fat dairy, and whole grains). Kids could integrate everything into one recipe, or incorporate some of those food groups into one dish and represent the others as suggested sides, like a whole-wheat wrap with chicken salad, lettuce and shredded carrots, served with skim milk and some strawberries.
Food That’s In When School is Out
On a sunny July afternoon, a long line of students, ranging in ages from 4-18, listened eagerly as Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and representatives from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and Boston Public School System kicked off the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Cafeteria staff from Lila Frederick School in Dorchester, Mass. cooked and served a BBQ lunch for about 100 eligible SFSP students from the local neighborhood. On the menu: turkey hot dogs, grilled chicken, corn on the cob, fresh slices of watermelon, grape juice and fat free milk.
Fruit and Veggie Tasting Prepares Students for Upcoming School Year
Ed. Note: This article is a cross post from USDA's Blog
Do you know what a Malanga is? What about a Chocolate Pepper? A group of students at Slater Jr. High School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island do -- they learned about these unusual vegetables and more during a fruit and vegetable taste testing at their Summer Food Service Program. For the less adventurous vegetable eater, a Malanga is a root vegetable that has a nutlike flavor and looks similar to a sweet potato when cut open. A Chocolate Pepper is a purple Bell Pepper.
10 Tips to Help You Eat Whole Grains
Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are great examples. Grains are divided into two subgroups, whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel—the bran, germ, and endosperm. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Here are ten tips that should help you eat more whole grains and start eating healthier:
Go for the Gold this Summer with MyPlate and Let's Move!
As we watch and are inspired by Team USA's 2012 Olympic results in London, we can all take a cue from our team and strive to live a little more like athletes ourselves. A nutritious diet and regular physical activity are the building blocks to peak performance. This summer, MyPlate and Let’s Move! are encouraging Americans to make healthier eating choices and include physical activity into their daily routine to support Team USA and celebrate the Olympic Games.
ChooseMyPlate.gov can help answer your questions about nutrition, weight management, physical activity, food safety, and building healthier meals. The website can help you make daily food decisions by providing information about food groups and portions sizes, and offering simple recipes that reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 recommendations. We encourage you to check out the 10 Tips Nutrition Education Series. Topics include “Eating Better on a Budget,” “Healthy Eating for Vegetarians,” and many more.
Your Stories: Celebrating Lets Move! Olympic Fun Day Across The USA
While First Lady Michelle Obama was in London leading the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games, communities back at home showed their support for Team USA by dancing, jumping and running their way to a healthier lifestyle. Thousands of people from nearly all 50 states got together to celebrate Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day on Saturday, July 28th by getting active and having fun. From tug-of-war in Eagle, Wisconsin to badminton in Porterville, CA and from soccer in New York City to relay races in Cornish, ME, we were thrilled by the response!
We hope all the fun and activity inspires your family and community to get moving too! And even though our Olympic Fun Day has passed, you can join or host a Let's Move! Meetup in your community year-round.
Have a look at some of the coverage, stories, photos and tweets from events that took place around the country:
Reed Alexander's Olympics-Inspired Recipes
Is your menu ready for the first day of the Olympic Games? On July 28th, the First Lady is hosting the first ever national Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day inspired by the summer games and as part of her Let’s Move! initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids. To join the celebration, Reed Alexander cooked up some delicious recipes inspired by London’s finest delicacies. Check out tips and recipes from Reed below:
