Michelle Obama appeared on "Dr. Oz" with a very special back-to-school announcement: the first changes in American public school lunches in 15 years! The First Lady has been a staunch advocate and activist for healthier children. From her "Let's Move" initiative to her talks on healthy gardening, she has been a great face for her wellness platform. As a heart surgeon, Dr. Mehmet Oz has been a huge supporter of Michelle's efforts.
The audience gave the FLOTUS a standing ovation and then listened intently as she spoke. Three very special guests had no idea that Mrs. O would be there. Oz welcomed three children to the stage: Taylor, J.P., and Rachel. After all, if you're going to talk about school lunches, you need the toughest critics.
Typically, the nation's public school lunches are the stuff jokes are made of. However, these mystery meat meals with ketchup as a vegetable are nothing to laugh at. The First Lady told Dr. Oz that most children eat 50 percent of their daily calories at school. Add that to the sedentary TV, Internet, and video game lifestyle of most children, and yes, childhood obesity is a huge (no pun intended) issue.
Taylor, J.P., and Rachel were invited to taste test lunchtime meal makeovers from Michelle herself. They were also allowed to ask the mom-in-chief personal questions. The adorable J.T., who looked to be about 8 years old, asked Obama whether she "got scared" sleeping in the big ole White House. Rachel, pretty in pink at about 12, asked whether Sasha and Malia's mother wore her pajamas around the White House.
Mrs. O. was fun and personable with the children, who loved her revamped meals. J.T. could barely stop eating to get his questions out. Motherly and sweet, Michelle told him that they've got plenty of security in their D.C. home quarters so she feels quite secure. She also confessed that although she always gets fully dressed with makeup before tooling around the "first mansion," visitors have caught her in her baseball cap. She joked about pretending that she "looked" like Michelle O. but actually was not herself in those awkward moments.
As for her healthy living tips, the story is the same: eat less junk, add veggies, move more. Michelle pushed whole grain pasta and bread. She also said that broccoli was a favorite meal in her family. One of her favorite way to exercise with her girls is to turn on the music and bust a move. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Oz even shared an impromptu dance party.
Schools must comply with the new USDA lunch guidelines. Well done, all. Let's move!
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