Healthy Families
This Saturday: Hold Your Own Playground Olympics
Ed. Note: As the First Lady leads the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she is calling on communities across the country to participate in an “Olympics-inspired” Meetup on July 28, 2012. You can learn more about Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day at: letsmove.gov/meetup.
Do you have Olympic fever?
This Saturday, July 28, as First Lady Michelle Obama leads the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games, she’s calling on families around the country to support Team USA, not just by cheering on our athletes, but also by organizing their own Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day events.
As the CEO of a national nonprofit dedicated to building playgrounds, I can’t help but be excited. After all, the Olympics encapsulates many of the elements that make outdoor play so critical: teamwork, skill development, challenge, and fitness, to name just a few.
Healthy Summer Recipes for the 4th of July
Pull out the checkered tablecloth and celebrate summer by planning the perfect picnic for your family, friends and neighbors by incorporating healthy appetizers, salads and mains. Whether your plate is paper plastic or fine china, fill half of it with fruits and vegetables, and show your guest the importance of a well-balanced meal.
An abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables are in season so make sure that your plate is brimming with watermelon, raspberries and corn! And if you can't decide on what you want to make for future summer cook-outs, try the USDA's recipe finder for inspiration. Check out some of our favorite summer recipes:
Get Moving Like an Olympian this Summer
Today, President Obama announced the members of the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The First Lady will lead this group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes as America roots for Team USA!
Watch: An Animated Mrs Obama Talks About Her Garden
As part of the Let's Move! Anniversary Tour earlier this year, First Lady Michelle Obama joined a town hall meeting of health experts hosted by WebMD. The panelists were all parents, and it was a lively discussion focused mainly on the best way to incorporate healthy habits into your family's routine. Mrs Obama also took some questions from the audience, and our friends at WebMD turned one of her answers into an animated video -- take a look!
A "State Dinner" Just For Kids
Calling all kid chefs: The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge invites parents of kids ages 8-12 to submit an original recipe for a lunch that is nutritious and delicious. All entrants have the chance to win a trip to Washington D.C. and the opportunity to be invited to attend a Kids' “State Dinner” at the White House in August, where a selection of the winning healthy recipes will be served.
Let's Move! is teaming up with Epicurious, the Department of Education and USDA to find great lunch ideas that are healthy, affordable, and -- of course -- tasty.
"We all want to ensure that our kids are eating nutritious, delicious food at every meal, and as a mom I know that parents are always looking for new ideas to make that happen,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “With parents and kids all across the country getting creative in the kitchen, I know we'll find healthy meals that every family will enjoy. And I can’t wait to try the kids’ creations myself.”
Plant A Garden: We're Planting Our Own Produce, Care to Join Us?
April showers bring May flowers. That’s how the old adage goes. But instead of waiting for the flowers to bloom, this May bring your family together with an activity that is perfect whether the sun is shining or it’s pouring down rain – we're talking about gardening of course! Families, schools and communities across the country can all take part in our newest initiative to get our children healthy. We’re growing our own produce and we want you to join us.
White House Roundtable: Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day
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.
Tips for Parents with Picky Eaters
Does your preschooler want to eat chicken nuggets every day? Does your toddler refuse to eat carrots? If your child doesn’t want to eat the healthy meals and snacks you fix, there are strategies that can help. The Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC) website offers tips to help young children learn to enjoy healthy meals and snacks. Here are some examples from the LMCC website:
"Let's Go, Let's Play, Let's Move!": Easter Egg Roll 2012
Ed. note: This was cross-posted from the White House blog.
The White House held a poster competition and invited elementary and middle school students nationwide to submit poster designs for the 2012 Easter Egg Roll. Students from over 20 states submitted entries. First Lady Michelle Obama selected winning designs for the 2012 Official Easter Egg Roll program cover and 2012 Official Easter Egg Roll poster. Posters will be handed out as a prize to children who win the Easter Egg Roll or Egg Hunt.
Champions of Change Get Their Communities Moving
Today, the White House honored twelve Americans who are who are living the goals of Let’s Move! everyday as Champions of Change. Each of the invitees is an example of what First Lady Michelle Obama called the founding purpose of Let’s Move! – community leaders, teachers and health professsionals who have found creative ways to keep our children active and healthy and get their communities moving!
During the event, the Champions each talked about the program they developed or introduced to their community and together they spoke about how small changes can yield tremendous wins in the lives of their students, area children and families.
