Michelle Obama Picture
By Jane Black
“Michelle Obama” instinctively knows that there is only so often that parents and kids want to hear about a healthful lifestyle. So the first lady found a new way to get their attention. She hula-hooped. Really, really well.
On a brilliant autumn day on the White House’s South Lawn, Obama also jumped rope (less successfully). She ran an obstacle course (shoeless). And she sampled good-for-you baked apples, zucchini quesadillas and a sweet and spicy popcorn snack, prepared by chefs with ingredients that are available to every public school in the country.
The only activity Obama turned down was the Moon Bounce (which, to be fair, was pretty crowded). But the message was clear: Eating well and exercising don’t have to be punishing. They can be fun.
“We want our children to eat right, not just because it’s the right thing to do but because, quite frankly, healthy, good food tastes good, and we want them to experience that,” she told parents and children from seven local schools who were invited for a Healthy Kids Fair on the South Lawn. “We don’t just want our kids to exercise because we tell them to. We want them to exercise because it’s fun and they enjoy it. And we want them to learn now how to lead good, healthy lifestyles so that they’re not struggling to figure out how to do that when they’re older.”
Health Care Won’t Make or Break Obama
First lady Michelle Obama hosts a “Healthy Kids Fair” on the South Lawn of the White House for about 100 children and parents from local elementary schools