Success Stories - Kids
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.
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.
From the Archives: "Move Your Body" Flash Workout
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.
USDA Announces New Farm to School Program to Improve the Health and Nutrition of Kids Receiving School Meals
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.
Life is a Truck Farm
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.
Let’s Move! Child Care Update: Success Stories from Tribal Communities
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.
Salad Bars in Los Angeles Schools: How Can You Follow Their Lead?
Imagine it is lunchtime and kids are running on empty. They rush into the lunch line, but instead of reaching for chicken nuggets and pizza, students are decorating their trays with brightly colored vegetables and fruits like red cherry tomatoes, green broccoli, black beans, and oranges. This isn’t just a dream, it is actually happening in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
High school students from LAUSD’s Los Angeles High School of the Arts teach elementary and middle school kids how to correctly and safely use a salad bar through a skit called Salad Bar Manners.
LAUSD, the second largest school district in the United States, serves as a great example for how to integrate healthy eating habits into everyday school routines. With the help of Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools (LMSB2S), the salad bar program at LAUSD shows what can happen when students and parents take initiative to support healthy eating in school cafeterias. Are you inspired by LAUSD? Take a look at how you can help make this a reality within schools in your community.
"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.
