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First Lady Visits Fort Jackson Military Base in South Carolina
When people hear about the First Lady's Let's Move initiative, the first thing they think of may not be the impact on our military -- but as it turns out it is extremely relevant. Yesterday First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Fort Jackson, a U.S. Army Training Center in South Carolina, to be briefed by Army leadership on the consequences of childhood obesity, poor childhood nutrition and the lack of physical exercise on military readiness, and tour the post’s new “Soldier Athlete" initiative.
Celebrating the Western Regional Office Summer Sunshine Award Winners!
Summer Food Service Program – in the middle of winter?
That question is a common one when we talk about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. What happens when school lets out? Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children can get the nutritious meals they need.
Calling All Innovators
I’m so pleased to announce a new initiative called the Healthy Living Innovation Awards. The Department of Health and Human Services is scouring the country to identify and recognize community-based projects that are improving the health status of their local communities.
First Lady Michelle Obama Announces Collaboration with Walmart in Support of Let's Move! Campaign
First Lady Michelle Obama joined Walmart executives last week to help launch the company’s Nutrition Charter, an initiative that proposes a number of changes by Walmart to offer more nutritious food products, lower the cost of healthy foods, and provide consumers with better information about healthy food options. These changes are the types of improvements critical to achieving the primary goal of Let’s Move! – solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.
Utah's Alpine Elementary Earns 2010 Oberstar Award from National Center for Safe Routes to School
Despite a mix of rain and snow, Alpine Elementary School students in Alpine, Utah, began their morning last Wednesday with yet another successful Walk to School Day. It was a great way to kick off their Safe Routes to School Award presentation.
You see, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has selected Alpine ES for its 2010 James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award, a national honor that recognizes outstanding achievement among the more than 10,000 Safe Routes to School programs.
Volunteer and Service Organizations Gather to Support Let’s Move
On Thursday, January 13th, the Let’s Move team co-hosted, along with ServiceNation, a gathering of over 40 service leaders from across the country to brainstorm ways the national service community to be engaged in the effort to end childhood obesity. Representatives from youth service organizations, physical activity groups, city governments, and national non-profits explored each of the Let’s Move pillars and developed initiatives for volunteers to plug themselves into at the county, city and town level.
High-tech Solutions Can Help Fight Obesity
Active gaming (e.g., EA SPORTS Active, Wii Fit, etc.) is one way technology can encourage and promote physical activity and meet youth and adults wherever they are on the ability spectrum.
USDA's Food Atlas Highlights Challenges and Opportunities to Bring Healthy Options to American Families
More than 23 million people in America live in food deserts, which are defined as urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. This lack of access makes it impossible for families across the nation to receive a nutritious diet, and furthers them from being able to lead a healthy lifestyle. Without access to healthy food, these hardworking men and women are at risk to higher levels of obesity, and other diet-related illness, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Does Hunger take a Summer Break?...Not in San Francisco
I recently visited the Willie Mays Boys and Girls Club to find out from the children what participating in USDA's Summer Food Service Program means to them. Year-round, afternoons at the Club means the children get to cook a healthy bean and kale soup, with fresh ingredients they grow in the Club’s Edible Schoolyard. It also means that on a cool winter day a few blocks away from the San Francisco Bay, children brave the weather to water and tend to their garden knowing the strawberries will soon be ready to eat. For Rena, the first strawberry that she ever ate came from the Edible Schoolyard, where she planted it. Now, of course, strawberries are her favorite food.
Let’s Move Goes Local
Over 470 mayors signed up to make their cities Let’s Move Cities and Towns. As a Let’s Move City or Town, mayors commit to making lasting policy changes, or launching new programs, in the four pillars of Let’s Move! that call for local action: reducing the risk of obesity in early childhood; improving nutrition in schools; increasing access to fresh affordable food; and increasing physical activity.
